Razzle Dazzle (2007) User Reviews

Good for the Ozzies

[sara-kay · 8/10 · 13 May 2007]

1 word- FABULOUS. not your average movie at all! Razzle Dazzle is an Australian based movie but a fake documentary. It is so full of unexpected jokes and wise cracks. i found it wonderful.

Only 1 thing some people i complained about was the fuzziness in the beginning. I think it was just a bit of an affect and made no damage to the movie. Ben Miller is great in this movie but it was Kerry Armstrongs act as a pushy stage mother that had me in tears. She is just so into her character in the movie. She tries to make her daughter seem the best in front of others and tells her off for each little mistake. What i found most funny was the fact she took her daughter in for a nose job (which of course didn't happen) and complained how she might end up with her fathers nose.

Though the concept of the movie is based on what happens in the homes and studios of the children, the main focus is the competition. They compete in a style of dance telling a story.

I recommend this movie for people whom enjoy dancing and comedies.

Sweet and thought provoking

[stitch_groover · 8/10 · 26 March 2007]

I watched Razzle Dazzle today not knowing much about it before hand, and therefore not having any great expectations. I love a good mockumentary, and if I had to compare it to any other, I would say it was in the same vein as "Drop Dead Gorgeous". But of course it had that Australian flavour to it which therefore meant the characters were a bit more relatable for me. Kerry Armstrong was wonderful as a pushy stage mother. This role could easily have gone into cliché but Kerry is such a good actress that she manages to get you to almost (only almost) fully understand her motives. Of course her daughter Tenille doesn't need to be pushed too hard, she wants it just as much. In contrast to Justine and Tenille, Nadine Garner's character of young Grace's mother is more of an interested outsider. She encourages her daughter, but it is Grace who is much more motivated and has the desire. The characters of Mr Jonothan and Miss Elizabeth are also complete contrasts - one is nurturing, the other a harsh task master. Miss Elizabeth also has the best cat's bum face I've ever seen. Denise Richards as Barbara the serial foster mother is a riot, while I didn't even recognise Tara Morice until the credits... but I did enjoy her rendition of "Gold".

Overall, the film was gently over the top, which I feel is the point of mockumentaries, while simultaneously making us feel for the characters. Razzle Dazzle is well written and very well acted. Good job.

Put some Razzle Dazzle into your life......

[leadie53 · 7/10 · 2 October 2007]

What a great little film....This won't win Oscars or any other film award, but it will make you chuckle at the characters some of whom we all know in real life. What parent hasn't had the (mis)fortune to be part of ballet classes, whether it be classical, modern, tap or contemporary. Every week the little darlings don their leotards and ballet shoes and go along and join their other little friends and teacher Miss Denise (an ageing, usually overweight woman who shouldn't really wear a body hugging anything, but does. Every week she puts the kiddies through their steps, until the dreaded "End of year Dance Extravaganza" arrives. Parents fork out a lot of money to put their kids through dance class, then more money on costumes, buying the DVD, buying the music etc...all for 3 minutes on stage. This movie looks at it all, with hilarious consequences. Starring some of the best performers in Australian theatre, TV, cabaret and movies. A must see....it's awesome!!!!!

Pretty fun viewing, even for those with not very high hopes

[pizzazzman2000 · 7/10 · 30 April 2009]

Few is the correct adjective which describes my viewing and experience with mockumentaries. Next in line is the fact that you don't get too many highly acclaimed Australian movies which literally dazzle all us couch-spectators. Such were the facts, experiences up my sleeve with this section of flicks, which propelled my mindset into the "must-see" mode. And there I was, curiously seated in front of the big screen.

In a matter of a few minutes, it was apparent that the movie was so cleverly pre-wired to drag us into the sea of illusion that we were dealing with actual facts and figures that go behind the scenes in the Australian dance hype. It was only because of my high alert mode, that I kept on reminding myself that this was not real....only FICTION! For starters, this flick smacks of the determination, both mutual and individual, which the key characters subject themselves to, in order to play a role in the everyday competition saga which, it goes without saying, regularly repeats itself. Three categories of key-players in this game: the teachers, the students, and the parents, warrant themselves a lot of merit. For instance, not only do the children get on board, but their parents, pro-actively, push them towards the dance floor. It's an amazing game of desperation, commitment,effort by all parties involved.

An eye-catching performance which steals the majority of the show is Mr. Jonathan. Crude? Clandestine? Do or die? Or determination verging on hysteria? Amazing how he tries to mold the mindset of his students in the bud, by asking them to imagine all sorts of shocking/horrific scenes, and making them fill in the action/reaction gaps through their dance steps.

Good job Darren Ashton. We need more from you coming. And thanks for spicing up the scenes with such great tracks!

Fantastic movie!!!

[andy_outsider_21 · 10/10 · 17 March 2007]

This movie is definitely one of the best Australian movies in recent times. Kerry Armstrong's character of Justine will go down in Australian cinema history as one of the most memorable characters of all time, right up there with Babe, Picnic at Hanging Rock's Miranda, Mick Dundee, the drag queens from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Darryl Kerrigan. It is fantastic to see a good Australian comedy for a change, and even if this is not a box office smash, it will become one of those Australian movies which Australians love.

It is a perfect example of a great Aussie parody. It examines, in a humorous way, stage mothers at their worst. Everyone will love the antics of Justine and the other stage parents as they push their children to the limit.

This is one of those must watch movies that everyone should see!!!!

A beautiful little tale

[the-gossip-king · 7/10 · 4 October 2007]

I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. It was funny and heartwarming and the little kids costumes at some points were adorable. It is the story of a dance school called Mr. Jonathons dance studio that is trying to win the most prestigious of Australian dance group awards. The story winds together a tough dance teacher who has won the award every year called Ms. Elizabeth, a competitive mum who can't stand to watch her child lose (played superbly by Kerry Armstrong) and the children who are just trying to have fun. Its a touching Australian dance movie that reminds us of Strictly Ballroom. All in all I was very impressed and happy with the film and would recommend it to any family who is thinking about entering a dance competition.

and a quick step out of cinemas

[ptb-8 · 2/10 · 9 April 2007]

Razzle dazzle is a very poor excuse for a trip to the cinema. in fact so lame even as a dance pic it tanked completely and struggled to find even a morning session in week three. The problem? well there is no movie; it is yet another 'mockumentary' a sort of hybrid Waiting For Guffman or A Mighty Wind and too late in the cycle of so-called funny fake documentaries. Also it insults the very audience it seeks to draw... kids in the suburban dance schools and their fanatical parents... this is the sort of misfire typical of many Australian so-called comedies: no market research, obvious characters and a compete waste of resources and expertise. The whole misguided Mr Jonathan's school of dance disasters is simply not funny and basically smacks of being created without any thought to how asinine it actually is. The ads and posters for RD clearly suggest a teenage Strictly Ballroom but there is no movie, just this wobblecam 'making-of' nonsense. With a strong cast completely wasted mocking stereotypes they hope will actually buy expensive $16.50 tickets each to see this in a Sydney cinema, Razzle dazzle misfires on every count. Only two things are of genuine interest: Kerry Armstrong's great body and the fantastic interior of the Crest Ballroom. The boring rest? NO.

If you don't think this is funny, I will give you your freakin money back!

[rooprect · 9/10 · 26 February 2010]

Yes. I, rooprect, am offering a money-back guarantee with this film. That's how confident I am that you'll think it's funny.

When I saw this for $4 in the Blockbuster used pile, the DVD cover wasn't very convincing nor were the reviews on the back which made it sound like an ABC afterschool special. I figured it would be a dud. But since I'd never seen an Australian film & I like Australian accents, I figured it would be a decent way to kill an hour & a half.

2 minutes into it, I LOL'd. A few minutes later I LMAO'd. And when they said that line about Brandon Lee, I actually ROFL'd. The gags kept coming, and at one point I thought to myself there's no way they could keep up the pace without becoming absurd. But somehow they managed to deliver laughs throughout AND also develop some very interesting characters and an engaging story with some super cool dance moves & super cute girls (not to mention 1 boy who's such an amazing dancer it'll make you want to try a backflip or two).

It's hard not to compare this film to "Spinal Tap", "Mighty Wind" and the other great mockumentaries by Christopher Guest because the format is very similar. But Razzle Dazzle is refreshing enough that you'll never think of it as a Guest ripoff, even though it fits right in. What makes it so refreshing? The extras.

Yes, the real stars of this film are the young, 11-13 year-old girls who play the dancers in this misfit dance troupe. They don't say a lot of lines, but whenever they're on camera their expressions & reactions are so hilarious you'll find yourself rewinding to watch them again in the background. In the "Making Of" featurette on the DVD, the director said he achieved this by not telling the girls the script beforehand, so their reactions are 100% genuine. There was also quite a bit of ad-libbing. The result is pure comedic perfection.

The adult actors were great themselves. Each person plays a caricature of reality but they do it so convincingly that you never stop to think you're being had. There's a loser, a spaz, a bitch, a clueless mom, and a weird goth chick in one of the funniest non-speaking roles I've seen. Really, everyone did a fantastic job. I think this is one of the greatest examples of deadpan humour I've seen in a long time.

I can't believe only 340 IMDb people have voted on this film to date. "Razzle Dazzle" definitely gets my vote for the best undiscovered gem in the last 10 years.

An Astute Australian Absurdity

[stegor · 7/10 · 21 April 2015]

Regardless of tragedies happening globally our personal lives will always take precedence.

Disasters happen. Mayhem abounds. But stubbing your toe will supercede all. T'is part of the human condition.

In Razzle Dazzle, an excellent comedy, dance dominates the characters lives.

Their raison d'etre, their whole rationale, superficially presented as terpsichorean.

In truth, of course, there's far more involved - Egos, ambitions, needs and wants.

The setting's no more than a convenient device. We all take ourselves too seriously.

The deadpan delivery of patent absurdities. The self deception and lack of awareness.

All these conspire to raise a chuckle along with a certain empathic engagement.

You'll quickly forget it's a mocumentary. Mr. Jonathon's real - He's out there somewhere.

Names may change. Locations differ. A mirror might well prove useful.

Full of Razzle, Not Much Dazzle

[chips_n_gravy02 · 4/10 · 27 March 2007]

I was eager to see this new Australian film, as I am for all Aussie films, as I love just about everything that the industry comes up with. I have to say though, I was disappointed with the movie on the whole and found it very tedious and at times wanted to leave the cinema.

I found myself shifting around in my seat, spacing in and out every now and then and pretty much wanting to leave.

Now, that's not to say I didn't find parts of the movie bearable - witty and funny bits were splashed about everywhere. When it came to piecing the whole movie together, however, it just fell flat.

Kerry Armstrong is the exception. I found myself sitting up in my seat and smiling every time she came on screen because each scene she was in was hilarious and bright. Jane Hall also gave a very good performance. The five-second appearance by one of my favourite actresses Rachel Gordon was a little more than a blink-and-you'd-miss-it scene which was disappointing because she deserves so much more than what she is given.

All in all, Razzle Dazzle gave it a fair go but with the majority of the adult audience it didn't match the hype it received before the movie came out. Young kids would enjoy it for the singing and dancing routines, and I'm sure many adults could find something they liked about it as well.

I couldn't help but picture Chris Lilley (King of the Australian Mockumentary) playing Mr Jonathon and wondering if he might have been just the thing to spruce it up a bit.

Learned a lot!

[Ollie21 · 10/10 · 14 March 2007]

Razzle Dazzle makes us laugh at ourselves. No really! Darren Ashton (director) chooses his feel-good mockumentary on competitive dance in Australia to show realistic characters. And the audience can't help but laugh at our immature look on life - our competitive nature! Kerry Armstrong and Ben Miller are wonderfully cast as pushy stage mum Justine and dance visionary Mr Jonathon. Quirky yet significant lines show what's really happening in the arts (both adult and child perspective). The film even makes a crack on the plight of Afghani women. This has to be one of the first films that has been able to make me laugh uncontrollably at some parts of the film and think and question the character of humanity in others. It revolves around family so basically is good for any age. It really is a journey on dance - from the beginning, we're all connected to the characters and we want Mr Jonathon's dance school to win. We watch their journey progress and fold. Loved every minute of it! Denise Roberts as Barbara was funny too. She was my fav. character!

Highly recommended! * * * * *

A journey into cliché

[torbenralston · 4/10 · 22 March 2007]

Razzle Dazzle I'm not sure why this film is called a mocumentary. It should really be called a Spoof, as it seems to steal from that many other films that it starts to become unfunny. Waiting for Guffman, Strictly Ballroom, Mad Hot Ballroom, even a little feel of Bring It On and the main offence is just swapping teens for kids check out Drop Dead Gorgeous. There are some funny moments in this film. It just that we have seen it done before and done better. This film could be fun for twelve to fifth teen year old's who would not have seen the above films.

The two redeeming factors in this film is the brilliant acting of Kerry Armstrong. Her one-liners are fantastic. Also the kids all seem to not of over act and do a pretty dam good job.

2 stars for Kerry Armstrong 2 stars for the Kids

Dance like everyone is watching

[storywyz · 8/10 · 9 September 2007]

What a terrific movie. An Aussie success. Kerry Armstrong deserves the highest accolades as do all the kids doing the dancing. Mister Jonathan may not get the top prize but he gets points for showing the audience that dance is not always a love story but can be used to convey the darker side of world issues. Passion is messy and cringing sometimes but the director and writers handle the edge between drive and madness with soft eyes.

Sydney film locations included a historic building in Parramatta and Justine's home in Northwest of Sydney. Unexpected bonus: Imagine my delight when I recognized Justine's home as one designed by friends - Indigo and Ochre, Architects based in Sydney. The slightly over the top house matched Justine's character perfectly.

Oh my God

[adx7 · 1/10 · 25 October 2007]

How in the world did this film ever get made?

There wasn't a single good point about the whole film.

I wouldn't have even given this "film" 1 out of 10 if there was a lower mark.

Utterley pointless.

Now don't get me wrong, I love films of all types and can usually see the good in things but this was 100% BAD!

Totally unfunny (apart from one brief moment involving some vomit).

This was like a poor man's Strictly Ballroom. So clichéd and tiresome.

Avoid like the plague!

Razzle me dazzled

[videorama-759-859391 · 9/10 · 8 January 2014]

I'm not really into kid's movies, or ones about dance, but coming across this one day on Foxtel, I had to see it again. The smartly done, Razzle Dazzle, mocks up the performance of dance. It comes across as very documentary, while also having some clever, uproariously comic moments, in between. The performances, especially, from the adults, the mums of the star kids, are very good indeed, even from Ms grown up (second hand rose) Jane Hall. Paul Mercurio even makes a guest appearance, as does Leo Sayer, near the end, while being a judge on the big dance competition, so many kiddies have trained hard for. We see an array of talent indeed. RD is real life, in this competitive industry, where we the kid's pitfalls, rejection, disappointment, envy, and those premadonna types, that literally get on my goose. For Mums or kids involved in dance, this is a most treasured watch. I guarantee, you'll love it.

Very glad I took a chance on this

[runamokprods · 3 November 2016]

Delightful, quite funny mockumentary in the vein of Christopher Guest, especially 'Waiting For Guffman'. If this isn't quite as surreally inventive or hysterically funny as that modern classic, it makes up for it with a great sense of good cheer, a dose of humanity between all the absurdity, and a terrific lead performance from Ben Miller as a deeply self-delusional dance teacher.

It's all about dance school competitions between different groups of pre-adolescent girls. Miller plays Mr. Jonathon, who not only desperately wants to finally win, but also to make political statements by staging dances based on issues like the Kyoto Climate Protocols. This leads to some extremely funny sequences as we see these little girls dancing about some of the most un-dance-able concepts imaginable. The dialogue is witty, the supporting performances generally very strong (the one weakness is that some of the supporting 'types' lampooned are a bit too familiar and easy targets), and the choreography is great - just off enough to be extremely amusing.

I was very glad I took a chance on this, and picked up a DVD copy on a friend's recommendation.