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Rating: Country: USA Release Date: February 3, 2009 Distributor: Paramount Director: · Adrian Lyne Cast: · Jennifer Beals · Michael Nouri · Sunny Johnson · Belinda Bauer · Kyle T. Heffner · Lilia Skala Related Sites: · IMDb: Flashdance Grade: C+

Pointing out simultaneously that dreams can come true and that the loss of dreams is like a loss of self, “Flashdance” serves up some decidedly antiquated and surreal ideas of gender roles with a whole lot of sexy dances, synthesized eighties tunes and lingering views of the female anatomy. None of this should surprise anyone familiar with director Adrian Lyne’s resume, or writer Joe Eszterhas’ oeuvre of erotic thrillers and boobie-centric movies, but as a re-examination of culturally significant films, “Flashdance” proves fascinating and inappropriately amusing.

Firstly, the implication that women cannot make it in the world without men unless they dance, figure-skate, or anything that involves performance for a male gaze, is offensive in a “Pretty Woman” kind of way, therein keeping the fairer sex worrying about their waistlines when not popping out babies. Secondly, while the dancing in the film is quite impressive, the idea that there would be partially titillating non-nude interpretive dancing at a local pub is somewhat strange. Lastly, why was Jennifer Beals spraying either water or sweat in absolutely every scene she danced in?

These many flaws aside, “Flashdance” is the sort of film that gives people naive hope, along with some fancy dance routines and nostalgia for tackier times, which alone should sustain many viewers.

Following Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), a daytime welder/night-time erotic dancer who just wants to be a ballerina, the film examines her battle with the fear of failure while developing a relationship with her older, financially sound, boss Nick (Michael Nouri).

Meanwhile, her best friend (Sunny Johnson) fails in her attempts to be a professional figure skater that leads her down a path of titty-bars and chronic depression, which in turn holds Alex back from following her dream.

Featuring the Oscar winning song “What a Feeling” along with many other hot eighties tunes and innovatively choreographed dance sequences, this DVD release “Flashdance” comes with no special features to speak of, aside from a 4 song CD with tracks by Erasure and Echo & the Bunnymen.

As a package, it’s pretty unimpressive, but is certainly worth picking up if the price is right.