Oldsters meet hip-hop in feel-good ‘Gotta Dance’

New York: A feel-good movie if ever there was one, Dori Berinstein`s ‘Gotta Dance’ charts the formation of the NETsationals, the senior dance team of the NBA`s New Jersey Nets, for one glorious season.The indie film, which opens Friday (July 31), should please a wide-ranging audience, from that older demographic traditionally shunned by Hollywood to younger viewers who will be shocked and awed by grandparent-aged people`s ability to get jiggy.

"Motley" wouldn`t even begin to describe this particular dance crew, which includes Betsy, a 61-year-old dedicated kindergarten teacher who calls her wilder dancing alter ego "Betty"; Deanna, 64, a New York legal secretary who was busted by her boss for taking a "sick day" when TV cameras recorded her successful audition; Fanny, 81, a Filipina grandmother and survivor of the Japanese occupation of her homeland in World War II; and Joe B, 60, the feisty, lovable sole male in the troupe. A squad of blond, buff, Barbie-like Nets cheerleaders take over these seniors` training, which turns out to be fairly rigorous. "We have a responsibility to the fans," is the mantra of the choreographic martinets, and the age and inexperience of the would-be hip-hoppers buys them no easy pass, as the pressure mounts before game day and routines are drummed into them with boot-camp ferocity. They finally make their public debut in the New Jersey Meadowlands arena, and their performance is a triumph, garnering them a standing ovation as well as a sudden rush of media exposure, with adoring newspaper and TV coverage making them the new silver sweethearts of America. But they barely have time to savor their success, as it`s on to the rehearsals for their next performance. The pressure is even greater this time, as the celebrity-distracted rehearsals put them in jeopardy of being completely cut from the game by the Nets` all-powerful, uncompromising VP of entertainment. Berinstein delves into the outside lives of some of the participants, which lends added interest and viewer involvement. Through it all, the message is, "Life doesn`t end at 60," and most of the dancers are vibrant reminders of that fact. This is never more apparent than when, during a break from performing, listening to the boogie-woogie music being played for the younger cheerleaders` rehearsal, Joe suddenly grabs one of his fellow dancers and starts to jitterbug with her. The man has displayed some serious rhythm issues during the hip-hop routines but reveals a suave, easy grace in swing dancing that puts the robotically precise, strenuously over-the-top, sweaty choreography of the nubile youngsters to shame. The film is technically smooth and well edited, including a snappily fun shopping trip to Macy`s wherein Betsy is made to realize by her supportive fellow dancers that one doesn`t always have to dress one`s age, with beautiful results. This small journey of self-discovery, even at an advanced age, mirrors the larger one Berinstein so fondly addresses here and leaves you with that oh-so-rare but genuine warm and fuzzy feeling. Bureau Report