Over the weekend,I got to catch up on Confessions of a Shopaholic via DVD and Netflix. I've been looking forward to seeing it,especially since I've been a fan of the book series written by Sophie Kinsella that it's based and even tho the adaptation was Americanized(the original characters and most of the storylines are British),the movie was still a blast and a half.
A nicely amusing surprise occurred part way thru the film,in a scene where Becky Bloomwood(Isla Fisher)is asked to hit the dance floor with Luke Brandon(Hugh Dancy)and she gets a bit slaphappy with the fan that he's given her:
It's a fun and funny moment,which got me thinking about other hilarious dance scenes that I've enjoyed in both movies and TV that still get a grin again and again. Whether the dancing is intentionally bad or not,it's the timing that makes for a true terpsichorean tickle of the funny bone.
First up is one of my favorite bits from 1997's Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion,starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. Kudrow's character meets up with a former classmate(Alan Cumming)who had a huge crush on her back in the day and now only wants to share a special dance with her at the reunion.
She says yes,but only if her best friend can join them,which is fine by him. The result is one of the most sincerely silly sweet choreographed numbers I've ever seen:
An instant cult classic,Pee Wee's Big Adventure had tons of amusingly memorable scenes but one of the best ones features another classic cult favorite,the song Tequila.
In this bit,Pee Wee tries to stall an inevitable beatdown by the biker gang he innocently walked in on(plus,knocked over their bikes)by borrowing a bus boy's big white shoes and strutting his stuff. Guess it goes to show you that it's not just music that soothes the savage beast,but some sweet moves as well:
In turning our attention to TV toe tapping,a good place to start looking for a goofy turn on the dance floor is Angel. While Buffy's favorite bloodsucking beau is fearless in battle,the idea of him showcasing his sad set of moves is truly terrifying to behold:
While Angel can make the excuse that dancing styles have changed quite a bit from when he was still human(over a hundred years ago),Mr. Collins is unable to make such a claim. In the 1995 P&P miniseries,Lizzie Bennet's most persistently slimey suitor proves his unsuitability as her future husband by pinning down for the first two dances at the Netherfield ball and fumbling his way thru them.
Granted,dancing in Regency times was a rather elaborate procedure to be sure,but that is no excuse for such a devoted toady to society not to know in which direction to make his moves,particularly to avoid injuring other party guests in his wake:
Of course,you can't really talk about hilarious TV dancing without mentioning Elaine Benes and her infamous "little kicks" routine. All of us at one time or another have had a friend or relative who was completely unaware of just how uncoordinated they are when it comes to dancing. Hopefully,you can stop them from showcasing their sad skills in front of co-workers before they become the office joke of the day:
The art of dance is a joy to behold and like any other art form,can be used to bring about laughter as well as tears. So,if you're in need of a chuckle,just shake your goofy groove thing and let the good times roll:
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