Swing Girls (2004) Review

Normally I have a format to how I review things, though I haven't really shown it. It's usually broken up into acting, story, impact, and production. This time I have decided to just write down some of my key thoughts and run with it. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter and suggest ways in which I can improve!!

Thoughts:

I am not very cultured in music; give me a music sheet and my eyes will glaze over. Meaning, I am basically limited to my opinion; does it sound good or not. There’s no science and it is definitely subjective. That being said the statement made in the final half hour, “There are two types of people in this world; people who swing and those who don’t.” worked for the movie and had me almost nodding my head in agreement. Of course it’s not true and is as cliché as it gets, but the movie succeeded in drawing its viewers into that world.

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for romance; making the small storyline between the two main characters, Tomoko and Takuo, an excellent treat. What I loved was that it was underplayed and subtle in a non-subtle way. There was one scene, and I hope I’m not spoiling too much, where the two are chasing each other in the midst of a snow ball fight. Tomoko trips and Takuo hovers over her; armed and ready for his target. He stops when he sees her looking straight at him, becoming aware of her for the first time. Now one would think that he is in the dominating position, but it is Tomoko who has him wrapped around her finger. Shown when he decides to drop the snowball and offer to help her up, only for her to make an escape. The whole scene is about two minutes long and despite the two never discussing their feelings, the movie was able to convey emotion almost on par with a romantic genre.

If I had to order the things that I loved in this movie, the romance between Tomoko and Takuo would be put on the backburner because the chemistry of the “Swing Girls” group whole would be first. The dedication that the school kids had was amazing, even though it was all fiction. One person following their passion is one thing, but a group? It takes a lot of trust and cooperation. Think about it, if you decided to start a business how many of your friends could you persuade to join in with you? Not many. It was refreshing and a bit envy worthy to watch the group of kids find their own way. From saving up money, realizing they suck ass, to becoming a crowd moving band. It’s the classic underdog story without the competitiveness. These kids are doing it all out of pure pleasure. Which made things endearing and the few shifts from realism bearable.

Now, I did skip some parts, both fault to the pacing of the movie and my personal agenda (which includes writing reviews, recaps, and art).  However, it made sense and there were few (if any) scenes that weren’t necessary to creating the illusion of reality. The movie did manage to counter this by having a good sense of humor and dialogue, especially when the group was just starting out.

Verdict:

Despite its positives, this movie may not be for everyone; in the sense that it should be watched on a lazy Sunday or with ease of mind. In addition there is the whole Jazz/Swing thing that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In short, it’s worth a watch, but it’s not a “must see now!” thing. 

Rating: 7.5-8/10