While holiday movie marathons are a beloved tradition, some films, like Come Dance with Me, are relegated to the wee hours of the morning for a reason. This 2012 Hallmark movie, starring Andrew McCarthy and Michelle Nolden, attempts to blend romance with dance in a Christmas setting, but ultimately stumbles, failing to capture the magic of either genre. For fans of Movie Dance With Me themes, this one, unfortunately, doesn’t quite deliver the expected rhythm and flair.
Comparisons to other holiday romances are inevitable, and in this case, unfavorable. Movies like Sound of Christmas offer similar storylines – a woman in the arts falling for a man connected to her potential eviction – but with more charm and memorable details. “Sound of Christmas” created a cozy atmosphere with its urban arts space setting, something “Come Dance with Me” sorely lacks. The biggest missed opportunity? Failing to capitalize on dance, the very element that could have made this movie dance with me offering unique.
Michelle Nolden and Andrew McCarthy in Come Dance with Me, a 2012 Hallmark movie where dance takes a backseat to a predictable plot.
The plot revolves around Jack (Andrew McCarthy), a finance professional seeking approval from his girlfriend’s mother, who also happens to be his boss’s wife. His solution? Impress them with dance skills. He hires Christine (Michelle Nolden), a dance studio owner, for lessons. The initial setup is light and predictable, but the narrative quickly introduces conflict when Christine discovers her studio’s lease is not being renewed, and Jack is revealed to be involved in the repossession.
Despite Andrew McCarthy’s efforts to bring humor and energy to his role as Jack navigates this awkward situation, the chemistry with Michelle Nolden’s Christine falls flat. This isn’t entirely due to the actors, but more so the script’s underdeveloped characters. Christine’s understandable preoccupation with her studio’s potential closure leaves little room for exploring other facets of her personality, or building a believable romantic connection. For a movie dance with me, the emotional depth and character development needed to resonate with audiences are simply absent.
What truly undermines “Come Dance with Me” is its glaring lack of dance sequences. While marketed as a dance-themed film, the dance element feels like an afterthought. A few well-placed dance numbers could have injected much-needed energy and saved the sagging plot, as seen in Lifetime’s Holiday Spin. Even though “Holiday Spin” is a teen soap opera with its own flaws, its energetic ensemble dance pieces and duets provide compelling moments. “Come Dance with Me,” in contrast, reserves its sole dance sequence for the finale, a weak attempt to compensate for the preceding dance drought. For viewers seeking a true movie dance with me experience, this is a significant letdown.
Ultimately, “Come Dance with Me” needed a surge of creativity, a vibrant blend of music and visual artistry to complement its characters and story. For a far superior example of how to successfully integrate dance and holiday themes, one should look to Hallmark’s criminally underrated Nutcracker Christmas. That film treats both its subjects and the performing arts with the appreciation they deserve, something “Come Dance with Me” unfortunately misses.
Alt Title: The Christmas Dance
Released: 2012
Dir: John Bradshaw
Writer: Kevin Commins
Cast: Andrew McCarthy, Michelle Nolden, Stephanie Anne Mills, Mary Long, Zachary Bennett, Chris Gillett, Jane Moffat
Time: 83 min
Lang: English
Country: United States
Network: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
Reviewed: 2019
