Ask Me to Dance (2022) Film Review
There’s a specific scene in Ask Me To Dance that translates the awkward feeling I got with its shallow and repetitive representation of bad dates, love quests, and every opportunity of turning a situation into an anecdote. It consists of a cameo by a sportsperson who inexplicably enters and leaves the scene many times. It’s a strange resource by a screenwriter who seems desperate to solve the conflict by portraying secondary situations that add nothing to the main story. Cameos should be better used, and they should actually be used if they add something to the story and it’s not only a chance for a viewer to say “hey, that’s that guy”.
I couldn’t connect with Ask Me To Dance. Romantic comedies aren’t my cuppa, but I celebrate their existence in a broad niche that seems to sit comfortable while waiting for the next formula-based film. If I understand the film’s intention, then why can’t I lower my expectations and enjoy a film just because?
Besides when “dumbed down” romantic comedies are well made, they can sit alongside their greatest peers. A good writer can actually do something good without attempting to change the genre. But Ask Me To Dance is based on a list of ideas that yes, does a good job at using real insighting for the purpose of a story, but they aren’t cohesive with the serendipitous nature of the main conflict. I’m aware we aren’t actually supposed to believe the events taking place, but if you’re able to break some rules and twist reality, why can’t you make the story more interesting?
Ask Me To Dance is the story of two people who are made for each other. But they actually haven’t met. A few days before New Year’s Eve, they are told by a fortune teller that they will meet the love of their life. Each of them desperately goes on dates, and accepts unbelievable proposals. You know where this is going, right?
The main problem with Ask Me To Dance is that it goes nowhere beyond a cliche-ridden storyline that insists on exploiting every single tale of “bad dates” you have ever heard. And not much more. There’s a dancing element that connects the beginning of the story with a resolution, but it’s just the garment of an emotionally void plot. Yeah sure, Bollywood does it every now and then, but tradition doesn’t equal quality. And this ain’t Bollywood.
I’s not that Ask Me To Dance stays on its predictable path. That’s actually enjoyable most of the time in this subgenre. But when these situational portraits aren’t funny, then you lose grace. In Ask Me To Dance, punchlines are delivered constantly but they ultimately don’t hit the target. It’s uncanny how the film at some point even grasps at something offensive and gets away with a safe delivery of the message.
If you don’t care much for believable romance and actually enjoy shallow characters behaving like you’d expect, then you will probably like this one. As for me, the story is the priority, and this one didn’t do it for me. It’s unfortunate because it’s a very well shot movie that actually looks better than a bunch of other indies. Visuals are important, but if you can’t make me feel something while showing me a genre as essential as “romance”, then you can do better. Much better.
After seeing this film last evening I couldn’t agree more. I was surprised by some of the overly inflated reviews. Of course, realizing the filmmakers generated those themselves I was still very disappointed. The film would have done better had it stayed in the lane of a sweet, romantic film about love. However, the writer added poorly written jokes that were both cringeworthy & unnecessary. At one point, I actually felt bad for the actors. It appears the screenwriter is well-known for low budget & poorly written films. I suppose I should have researched before accepting the invite.