It’s hard not to like She Dances, a feel-good family comedy about a father and daughter reconnecting through their shared trauma…and a tough dance competition. The film is a family affair through and through, led by beloved actor Steve Zahn, who not only stars but co-wrote the screenplay with actor/director Rick Gomez. But that’s not all. The film’s other lead is Zahn’s daughter, Audrey, in her acting debut. And before the whines of “nepo-baby” start raining down, just know that Audrey is the real deal. A trained dancer, she proves to have grasped her Dad’s gift for humor both broad and subtle, which is enough to overlook some of the film’s flaws.
The story is pretty simple, and follows Jason (Steve Zahn), who is tasked by his ex-wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) to chaperone their daughter Claire (Audrey) and her best friend Kat (Dance Moms alum Mackenzie Ziegler, another scene-stealer) to a dance competition. Jason has a lot on his plate already, what with trying to sell his brewery with his pal Brian (Ethan Hawke). He’s also dealing with a recent tragedy, one that has kept him and Claire at arm’s length. So this reunion is guaranteed to be fraught with tension. This tragedy impacted Claire, too, and she’s had to deal with it with only the support of her mom and best friend, with Jason elsewhere.
One of the things I really dug about She Dances is that Jason isn’t some douchebag so preoccupied with his own shit that he makes excuses for not being around. Instead, he quickly mans up at the opportunity to escort Claire, despite his apprehension. And Claire is neither a brat or a pushover. She doesn’t expect much from Jason, but doesn’t beat him up for all of the many mistakes he makes along the way; like screwing up the hotel reservation that forces them to make a detour to a more shoddy place. There’s an acceptance from both Jason and Claire that the other is making an effort, and that kind of wholesome family dynamic is something that is lacking in too many similar films.
Other aspects of She Dances don’t fare quite as well. Zahn and Gomez’s screenwriting experience shows in the clunky dialogue, especially for the teenage girls. Some of the references feel extremely dated, like a Rocky IV analogy during a competitive showdown between Claire and the powerful, disciplined dancer Marla (played by Haley Fish), whose rigid devotion to winning gives off Ivan Drago vibes. Potentially painful confrontations between Jason and Claire aren’t glossed over so much as they are wrapped up more neatly than life typically allows. That said, this lighter touch is frequently to the film’s benefit. Reality shows like Dance Moms have shown us the parasitic nature of these competitive events, but She Dances reinforces that a nurturing environment full of people who love and support you is the surest way to achieve your goals.
If She Dances was designed as a platform to launch Audrey Zahn’s acting career, it’s done the job well. She’s got a bright future ahead, with or without her father at her side, and I hope we’ll see her dancing into bigger and better things soon.
She Dances opens in theaters on March 27th.
