Feel the Beat (film)
Feel the Beat | |
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Directed by | Elissa Down |
Written by |
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Produced by | Susan Cartsonis |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Amir Mokri |
Music by | Michael Yezerski |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Feel the Beat is a 2020 American family dance comedy-drama film directed by Elissa Down, written by Michael Armbruster and Shawn Ku and starring Sofia Carson, Enrico Colantoni and Wolfgang Novogratz.[1][2]
Plot[]
April Dibrina, a young dancer seeking success on Broadway, steals a cab from an old lady during a rainstorm to get to an auditon. She performs well, but sponsor Ruth Zimmer, meets the potential dancers. When she recognizes April (from the taxi incident), she vows that no one on Broadway will hire her. While trying to explain, She accidentally knocks Ruth off stage, inflicting serious injury. It is posted on social media, publicly embarrassing April.
April returns to her hometown in Wisconsin. She bumps into the New Hope dance teacher Miss Barb, who invites her to come to the dance studio. April also sees her ex Nick, whom she left to pursue a career in New York City. In the dance studio, she visits the class of dancers: Lucia, a forgetful girl with glasses; Oona, a nervous girl; Kari, who secretly earns her own classes; Ruby, with no self-confidence; Zuzu, a deaf girl; Sarah, Nick’s little sister; and June and Michelle, the youngest. Zuzu’s little brother, Dicky, also watches.
Barb asks April to coach the town's dance team for a competition. At first, April declines, but later realises the competition can give her a chance to perform in front of Welly Wong, saving her career. April accepts, beginning a harsh training regimen that alienates the young dancers, including causing Ruby to quit.
The New Hope dance team advances through several rounds of the competition; they improve as April bonds with them, becoming a better teacher, including learning some sign language to communicate with Zuzu. One day, the dance studio ceiling collapses after April tells the dancers they "don't suck," so they know they are improving. Unable to afford repairs to the studio, the team moves practice to the football field and eventually move to April's father's barn, which Nick has helped repair. April and Nick begin to rekindle their relationship as the dance team advances to state. Dancers from another troupe taunt April about her failure in New York.
In the mini’s 6-and-under category, the two youngest dancers, June and Michelle, are struck with stage fright. Dicky, who has memorized all the girl's choreography while they practiced, runs out and starts to dance. June and Michelle recover, and they all dance together. Dicky now dances with all the girls at the studio.
After passing state finals, April calls her New York friend Deco to help make costumes. One day, as the small dancers are rehearsing a lift in the barn, April calls on Sarah and R.J., the football player whom Sarah has a crush on and Sarah wants to impress him, to demonstrate the lift. When R.J. lifts Sarah, silicone chicken cutlet falls out of her shirt, and she runs off, embarrassed and crying. April finds her in the field and comforts her.
The dancers' families raise the money to send the team to Atlantic City for the finals. April reconnects with Nick's younger sister Sarah, who had felt abandoned when her mother died and April moved to New York. Once in Atlantic City, after a performance, Welly Wong is so impressed with April he offers her a role in his new show on the spot. April and Welly leave the competition immediately for rehearsal in New York, devastating the team.
The next day, April realizes her mistake and abandons the rehearsal, proclaiming to Welly that she wants to honor her commitment to New Hope. She calls Deco again to drive her back to Atlantic City just in time to encourage the team before the performance. After reconciling with her dancers, April and Nick kiss, and Welly keeps her on despite leaving rehearsal. April performs in Welly Wong's show in New York and continues teaching her dance class in Wisconsin via video chat. On opening night, Welly surprises April by bringing the New Hope team over to New York for a dance party.
Cast[]
- Sofia Carson as April Dibrina
- Wolfgang Novogratz as Nick
- Donna Lynne Champlin as Barb
- Enrico Colantoni as Frank Dibrina
- Rex Lee as Wellington 'Welly' Wong
- Brandon Kyle Goodman as Deco
- Marissa Jaret Winokur as Herself
- Dennis Andres as Buzz
- Lidya Jewett as Kari
- Shiloh Nelson as Ruby
- Shaylee Mansfield as Zuzu
- Sadie Lapidus as Oona
- Johanna Colón as Lucia
- Eva Hauge as Sarah
- Justin Allan as Dicky
- Kai Zen as June
- Carina Battrick as Michelle
- Robinne Fanfair as Patty
- Ken Pak as Gordy
- Marcia Bennett as Grandma
- as R.J.
- Pamela MacDonald as Ruth Zimmer
- Amy Stewart as Carla
Release[]
Feel the Beat was released on June 19, 2020.[1]
Reception[]
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 50% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5.33/10.[3]
Soundtrack[]
- "Let's Do It" - All Talk
- "Work Dat (So Dat)" - Kylie Diehl
- "Hand of Man" - Country Joe & The Fish
- "Round and Round" - Jack Hawitt
- "Brand New Day" - Kari Kimmel
- "Never Forgive You" - Brooke Villanyi
- "Wish You Was Me" - Lauren Evans
- "Glitter Shoes" - Blaire Reinhard
- "Confident" - Demi Lovato
- "Us" - Regina Spektor
- "Deal With It" - Girli
- "Pumpin Blood" - NoNoNo
- "Yes or Yes" - Tricia Battani
- "I'm Gonna Do My Thing (Hey Hey)" - Mozella
- "Like That" - Fleur East
- "Colors" - Wayfarers
- "Follow the Leader" - Wayfarers
- "Winner Won't Stop" - Neara Russell
- "Always" (Acoustic) - Francois Klark
- "A Little More" - Alessia Cara
- "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" - C+C Music Factory
- "All I Wanna Do Is Dance" - Mozella
- "Always" - Sofia Carson[4]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "'Feel the Beat': Trailer, Cast, Release Date, and What To Know About the Know About the Netflix Film". Decider. 15 June 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Review: Feel the Beat Is A Charming Dance Movie". The Cinemaholic. 19 June 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Feel the Beat (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ "Every Song In Netflix's Feel The Beat". ScreenRant. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
External links[]
- 2020 films
- English-language films
- American comedy-drama films
- American dance films
- American films
- Films about dance competitions
- Films about deaf people
- Films set in Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Films set in New York City
- Films set in Wisconsin
- Films shot in Toronto
- English-language Netflix original films
- Films scored by Michael Yezerski