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Mad About Mambo (2000)
Released By: USA Films   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: USA Films
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: John Forte
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Brian Cox, Keri Russell, William Ash, Theo Fraser Steele, Julian Littman
Published ID: 300895
UPC: N/A
Plot: An Irish boy obsessed with sports finds his life changing dramatically once he adds a little Salsa to his life in Mad About Mambo. Danny (William Ash) plays on the football team (called soccer in America) at the all-boys Catholic school he attends in Belfast. Danny's three best friends, who also play on the team, all have different ambitions for their lives. Mickey (Paul McLean) wants to be a fashion designer so he can get rich and date supermodels. Gary (Russell Smith) wants to become a magician so he can get rich and meet beautiful women (and presumably saw them in half). And Spike (Joe Rea) likes to beat people up, so he wants to become a mercenary and do it for a living. But Danny dreams of making soccer his life. The players Danny most admires are South Americans, such as Pele and Carlos Riga, who he feels have a special rhythm and flexibility. Wanting to add some of these qualities to his own game, Danny gets a brainstorm: he'll take mambo lessons, in the hope that dancing like a South American will help him play like a South American. To the surprise of himself and his friends, Danny turns out to be a pretty good Latin dancer and finds himself smitten with a pretty American student in his dance class, Lucy (Keri Russell). However, Lucy happens to have a boyfriend, who is a fierce competitor on one of Danny's rival teams. Executive producer Gabriel Byrne appears in a supporting role. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Entertaining, like a beach read
Added 6/15/2009

This movie about a working-class Irish soccer player and an upper-class girl who loves to dance is the equivalent of a good beach read. It is light, amusing fare that will let you escape your own life for awhile. Girl has an upper-class boyfriend, but doesn't love him. Boy has a dream and an eye for the girl. Dance brings them together. Happy ending, complete with fireworks. It is another take on Dirty Dancing without the dirt. It's sweet and a little silly, but a spirited feel-good romp.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Fun and moving!
Added 8/10/2007

Okay, so maybe you wouldn't watch the movie for the dancing alone -- though that part of it is fun. But the story is so touching. Check out how noble and selfless Danny's love is: how fearlessly he pursues uptown girl Lucy, but without allowing himself to be treated like a doormat. His character alone is worth watching the movie 100 times for...but the dancing and fun Latin beats add a lot as well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Warning: No Mambo
Added 12/5/2005

Cute romantic comedy - watch it for the romance, for the soccer, for the actors, but don't watch it for the dancing. You ballroom people will notice right away that there is no mambo in the movie, mostly samba and a bit of rumba. That said, you don't see much of the dancing: the cameras focus mostly on the faces and leave you wondering about the footwork. Also, very limited choreography - same steps over and over throughout the film.

Nevertheless, it's a fun movie overall, and the acting is very good.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
"Now THAT girl would like great in chiffon!"
Added 6/20/2003

"Mad About Mambo" is a slight but fun film starring Keri Russell and William Ash as Lucy and Danny, two mismatched dance partners in modern day Belfast. Russell is a spoiled princess, Ash is a working class football (or soccer, depending on what side of the pond you're on) player, and together they overcome many obstacles, some of which pretty silly, before finally making their dreams come true.

Russell displays a surprising talent for dancing (and accents), holding herself like a dancer and managing the steps with ease. Ash is not as good; but then, he's not supposed to be. The supporting cast is great, with the standout being Danny's fashion-obsessed best friend. The dance sequences are decent but not stellar, with the real reason to see the film being the sweet portrait of Irish life.

For dance-film lovers, I would say this film is well-below "Strictly Ballroom" but well-above "Save the Last Dance". You may also enjoy it if you like romantic comedies or films about Ireland. Enjoy!

Grade: B/B-


6 out of 7 people found this helpful.
Great movie and music!
Added 1/25/2003

I love to watch this movie over and over again. It has great music. I was very sad to find there is no soundtrack to this movie but I have found a couple of the artists names that have songs on this movie if anyone is wondering. One of the songs "One Night" is from The Corrs and another song that is played at the end of the movie is called "Digge Dime" is from Burlap to Cashmere. You can find those songs on CD's here on Amazon. Check them out! Otherwise enjoy watching the movie over and over again like do. Wish they would release this on DVD at some point.
18 out of 18 people found this helpful.
Entertaining, like a beach read
Added 6/15/2009

This movie about a working-class Irish soccer player and an upper-class girl who loves to dance is the equivalent of a good beach read. It is light, amusing fare that will let you escape your own life for awhile. Girl has an upper-class boyfriend, but doesn't love him. Boy has a dream and an eye for the girl. Dance brings them together. Happy ending, complete with fireworks. It is another take on Dirty Dancing without the dirt. It's sweet and a little silly, but a spirited feel-good romp.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Fun and moving!
Added 8/10/2007

Okay, so maybe you wouldn't watch the movie for the dancing alone -- though that part of it is fun. But the story is so touching. Check out how noble and selfless Danny's love is: how fearlessly he pursues uptown girl Lucy, but without allowing himself to be treated like a doormat. His character alone is worth watching the movie 100 times for...but the dancing and fun Latin beats add a lot as well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Warning: No Mambo
Added 12/5/2005

Cute romantic comedy - watch it for the romance, for the soccer, for the actors, but don't watch it for the dancing. You ballroom people will notice right away that there is no mambo in the movie, mostly samba and a bit of rumba. That said, you don't see much of the dancing: the cameras focus mostly on the faces and leave you wondering about the footwork. Also, very limited choreography - same steps over and over throughout the film.

Nevertheless, it's a fun movie overall, and the acting is very good.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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VHS
@ Amazon
DVD
$25.99 @ Amazon