Overall Leap is a cute film with a good message, reach for your dreams no matter what. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't, because there were too many things that didn't add up. Most films require some suspension of disbelief, however, in order to enjoy it Leap requires you to suspend all common sense and knowledge of history. This is because there are things shown in the movie that just don't make sense and others that are obviously historically incorrect. Here is a partial list:
1) The Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower are both shown under construction. However, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in the USA in 1886, while the Eiffel of Tower wasn't started until 1887. Their construction didn't overlap. Not to mention that the Statue of Liberty is shown as green, when it was actually copper colored when first made and turned green over time.
2) The ballet role that the girls are fighting for is The Nutcracker, but the Nutcracker wasn't performed for the first time until 1892. This is 6 years after the Statue of Liberty was completed and 3 years after the Eiffel Tower was completed.
3) The villain who goes after Félicie says "It's Hammer time", an obvious reference to the 1990 M.C. Hammer song.
4) The clothing includes jean shorts and leg warmers, obviously not consistent with the time period.
5) Spoiler alert: Félicie gets into the ballet school. There are 8 or so girls at first, and they are told that every day one girl will be dismissed until the remaining girl gets the part in the Nutcracker. So with 8 girls and 1 being cut per day, this is all taking place over the span of a little over a week? So within 1-2 weeks, Félicie becomes a good enough dancer to stay in the auditions, and forms an amazing bond with Odette? This time frame is really just baffling.
6) Spoiler alert: Félicie returns to town and is able to get the part in the Nutcracker the same day of the performance. So this is a major performance and she is given the part the day of the show with no rehearsals? Even if she knows the routine already, she is dancing with another dancer and they would have to rehearse to be doing the turns and jumps at the same time. This just makes no sense.
My 7 year-old didn't notice any of these things, but my 11 year-old did. Seriously did no one fact check this movie, or did they assume that it is a kid's movie so it doesn't matter? It's really too bad that they didn't fix these issues, because the movie really does have a good message, and is so close to being likable!
1) The Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower are both shown under construction. However, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in the USA in 1886, while the Eiffel of Tower wasn't started until 1887. Their construction didn't overlap. Not to mention that the Statue of Liberty is shown as green, when it was actually copper colored when first made and turned green over time.
2) The ballet role that the girls are fighting for is The Nutcracker, but the Nutcracker wasn't performed for the first time until 1892. This is 6 years after the Statue of Liberty was completed and 3 years after the Eiffel Tower was completed.
3) The villain who goes after Félicie says "It's Hammer time", an obvious reference to the 1990 M.C. Hammer song.
4) The clothing includes jean shorts and leg warmers, obviously not consistent with the time period.
5) Spoiler alert: Félicie gets into the ballet school. There are 8 or so girls at first, and they are told that every day one girl will be dismissed until the remaining girl gets the part in the Nutcracker. So with 8 girls and 1 being cut per day, this is all taking place over the span of a little over a week? So within 1-2 weeks, Félicie becomes a good enough dancer to stay in the auditions, and forms an amazing bond with Odette? This time frame is really just baffling.
6) Spoiler alert: Félicie returns to town and is able to get the part in the Nutcracker the same day of the performance. So this is a major performance and she is given the part the day of the show with no rehearsals? Even if she knows the routine already, she is dancing with another dancer and they would have to rehearse to be doing the turns and jumps at the same time. This just makes no sense.
My 7 year-old didn't notice any of these things, but my 11 year-old did. Seriously did no one fact check this movie, or did they assume that it is a kid's movie so it doesn't matter? It's really too bad that they didn't fix these issues, because the movie really does have a good message, and is so close to being likable!