'Save the Last Dance' lacks intensity, history

By Jamie Teibel
Staff Writer

In "Save the Last Dance," Sara, played by Julia Stiles, moves from a small town to Chicago, dealing with the death of her mother and a new life with her estranged jazz musician father.

Sara is auditioning for Julliard when her mother dies in a car accident en route to the audition. She moves to Chicago, starting over at a new school where she meets Chenille, played by Kerry Washington, a fashion diva, mother and sister of the boy who at first makes Sara feel unwelcome. The brother, Derek, played by Sean Patrick Thomas, is an aspiring doctor, breaking away from old gangster habits.

Chenille takes Sara to a club called Steps where Derek tries to teach her a few things about dancing. Sara talked as if she could dance but couldn’t do the running man to save her life. He offers to teach her some moves in her free time and their relationship blossoms.

Throughout the story, Sara and Derek go through the issues of being an interracial couple dealing with their own problems on the side. Derek is trying to start a new life, one that doesn’t include robbing liquor stores and participating in drive-by shootings with his delinquent friend Malachai, played by Fredro Starr. He is also trying to extinguish the relationship he had with Nikki, played by Bianca Lawson, a tough punk who hates Sara for stealing Derek.

Sara, who feels responsible for her mother’s death because she told her to hurry to the audition, gives up ballet because it was her mother’s dream for her and her mother is gone. Derek won’t let her forget about her dreams and helps her create a routine for another Julliard audition.

The movie’s strong points are numerous — the dancing, the positive and realistic messages about interracial relationships and the soundtrack, which includes cuts from K-Ci and JoJo, Ice Cube and Jay-Z.

But we know little about where in Chicago Sara lives, why her father was not a part of Sara’s life, and why all the loose ends are suddenly resolved in the end.

It is a Romeo and Juliet story, but instead of the families tearing the couple apart, it is Derek’s friends. They didn’t accept the fact that Derek was in love with a white girl.

The story is perfect for those who enjoy love stories and good music. It’s not so perfect for those who enjoy movies with a lot of depth.

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