Jodi Matterson Movies

The curious world of children's dance competitions is raked over the satiric coals in this comic mockumentary. Mr. Jonathan (Ben Miller) is a dance teacher and choreographer who is preparing a group of his current students to take part in the Sanosafe Troupe Spectacular, a major regional competition for pre-teen dancers. Mr. Jonathan has been frustrated in his effort to bring home a first-place trophy, in part due to his ambitious themes, as his young charges are forced to take part in his interpretive pieces on war, economic injustice, environmental issues and the like. Mr. Jonathan's strongest adversary is Miss Elizabeth (Jane Hall), who has a constant smile and a will of iron as she weeds the "fat, lazy and untalented" from her ranks. However, this year Mr. Jonathan is determined to defeat her, and Justine (Kerry Armstrong), an overeager stage mother who claims she almost passed the audition to become a Spice Girl, is more than willing to help, as long as her daughter Tenille (Shayni Notelovitz) is featured prominently in Jonathan's latest extravaganza. Mr. Jonathan suffers through Justine's "assistance" until Tenille loses her star billing to Grace (Clancy Ryan), a plucky youngster with more talent. Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance received its American premiere at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide