Rashida Jones in Cuban Fury.
British dance show Strictly Come Dancing will have its sights on recruiting comedian Nick Frost as a contestant. A comedian by trade, Frost gives a charming performance as the romantic lead in this comedy, and is surprisingly fluid on the dance floor when it comes to the salsa.
Frost is
the nice, tubby, single Bruce Garrett, who sets his sights on wooing gorgeous new American boss Julia (Jones) by sharing her love of salsa. Encouraged by his brassy, bartender sister, played by the hilarious Olivia Colman, Bruce is determined to ask Julia to compete in a salsa competition with him. As Bruce hasn't danced the salsa since he was a 13-year-old dance protege, he's got quite a lot of work to do.
The Cuban Fury narrative is familiar to other underdog dance films, with the hero having to overcome obstacles to achieve a dream. In Bruce's case, these range from the cheesy - overcoming the scars of childhood bullying because of excessive sequins - to the contrived, repairing a broken relationship with his trainer, to the more outrageously funny, seeing off a lecherous co-worker (Chris O'Dowd) also in pursuit of Julia.
The final obstacle requires a dance-off in the office car park, and is one of the few scenes that elevate this from an ordinary rom-com into something unique and laugh-out-loud funny. The scene is all the better for a cameo by Simon Pegg, a reminder that Frost is often at his best when working with his old mate from Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.
Overall, Cuban Fury isn't as funny or original as you want it to be, but the cast do an exceptionally job of giving this small, sweet film plenty of heart. You can't help getting caught up in the climatic dance scene, and with a lead determined to break the mould of your typical romantic hero.
