Judy Garland’s daughter does what she does best in this 1991 musical comedy, a tribute to Garland/Rooney movies, written by Richard Harris from his play and directed by Lewis Gilbert. There’s nothing too original here, except for the dance productions, but nonetheless Stepping Out is mostly a charmer that provides fun escape. Minnelli plays Mavis Turner, a former Broadway dancer who once auditioned for Bob Fosse (Minnelli looking for a comeback) who after falling in love with an egomaniac, but not having any babies, has become a toe-tapping dance teacher for Canadians off the street.

First we’ll meet the eight well-defined characters that personify many of the amateurs you’re likely to encounter, including a jovial, heavy, black mother; a sensitive geriatric nurse; a shy, lonely, clumsy man; a shy, abused wife; a critical, clean-obsessed, arrogant woman; a plump, flirtatious wife; an agreeable neurotic and an outspoken fixer-upper.

The elderly pianist, played by Shelly Winters, is predictably not easy to get along with and offended easily by criticism. Then there’s the controlling, singer/musician boyfriend of Mavis who is unhappy with being a has-been and wants something better for ‘them.’

Finally Mavis gets a call from a very successful dance teacher/rival in town who patronizingly asks her to help out with a benefit she’s holding, teacher provided! A steaming Mavis assures the woman she’ll be teacher enough and proceeds to convince her students to participate. The rest of the movie shows her struggles and fears, plus a real showstopping dance number by Mavis, the students getting on each other’s nerves, laughing and gradually improving, and the resolution of Mavis’ relationship. Need it be mentioned that the results are such that the benefit hostess is soundly deflated and the huge crowd wants the Mavis Turner Tappers back next year, which is a fantasy of spectacular hoofing and features Mavis singing and acting up a storm.

Obviously Stepping Out will be most enjoyed by people who are fond of dancing and watching the tribulations of an artist amidst obstacles. It’s predictable and manipulative emotionally and can sometimes be grating on the nerves, so I’m sure that some of you wouldn’t care much for the movie. It’s big on showing the growing intimacy and teammanship of the characters, all for the good, and encouraging them to go after their dreams, but it can also be a bit tiring (as in the boyfriend) and too cutesy (instead of straw hats they get a flapper hat, army helmet, band majorette hat etc. at first to practice with).

Overall I did quite enjoy it because of the caliber of acting and Broadway tunes that drew me right in. The students in their twenties and thirties wanted to be in the class and to put on a good show, which made me want to watch and pull for them. Most of the scenes are in the spacey church social hall where lessons are taught, but we also follow the shy man and woman afterwards as they bond, Mavis with her boyfriend, and towards the end we see them all dancing in their homes or at work.

Minnelli (Cabaret) and Winters (A Place In The Sun) are seasoned actors, but the others had their chances to shine. I especially was taken with Julie Walters (Educating Rita), Andrea Martin (My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding) and Bill Irwin who acted so clumsy and slow-witted throughout much of the movie, but then surprised me with playing boogie woogie on the piano, punching out the abusive husband and going to town in the benefit!

Stepping Out isn’t a movie that makes you think a lot and certainly has its flaws, but it really did charm me, twice in a row to boot, and it just might you too!

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This is an entry to sleeper54's third annual Lean-n-Mean write-off. Check out http://www.epinions.com/user-sleeper54 for more details!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS