Dance Academy: The Movie

I liked the Emma Stone-Ryan Gosling song and dance romance-drama, but for me Dance Academy feels more real. It has something about it that is more dramatic, more emotional, more complex.

Strauss is a writer of real flair. A former teen dancer, she knows the milieu like the back of her hand and is not ashamed to take delight in an all-Aussie phrase like "pity pash".

The dialogue isn't exactly sparkling. It's matter-of-fact at best, cliched at worst, but Tara and friends are easy to like. The ballet movie tradition is well served.

Xenia Goodwin projects an ethereal quality when she dances -- and even in other scenes -- so I was drawn to her character. I also love the sensitive way romance is integrated into this endearing dance film.