The best way to describe Take the Lead is “cute.” But is it touching? Not really. Even the always charming and attractive Antonio Banderas fails to give Take the Lead the emotional shove it needs to get ahead of others in this now-cliché urban dance movie genre. But that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t have a strong point: the acting. Not only is the acting enjoyable, it feels authentic.

There is nothing phony about these characters. They are who they say they are. Yaya DaCosta is refreshingly believable as Lahrette, a troubled and bitter yet sensitive teen. Rob Brown (Coach Carter, Finding Forrester) delivers his usual hard-to-hate performance as Rock, the intelligent yet misguided youth. Banderas plays the now-too-familiar privileged-outsider-who-bestows-his-knowledge-and-wisdom-on-the-inner-city-youth, Pierre Dulaine, and is gracious with a comedic air.

The story begins after Dulaine volunteers to teach ballroom dance to the “school rejects” who regularly attend detention at a rough inner-city high school. Over the course of the film he manages to convince these reluctant and jaded students that they have a bright future. Alfre Woodard is superb as the strict school principal, but a subplot in which one of Dulaine’s rich suburban students joins the rejects in their unofficial lessons adds to Lead’s predictability.

One of the film’s greatest credits is its camera work. Veteran music video director Liz Friedlander’s experience serves her well here. She uses handheld camera techniques, slow motion shots and vibrant colors, all of which make for a more interesting viewing experience. Overall, while Take the Lead may not be ahead of the pack, it makes a great effort to finish runner up.

Grade: B