(No spoilers review)

Throughout the year I keep my eyes open for those special little movies that seem to fly under the radar. Last year it was Dear Frankie and Millions. The first gem of 2006 is Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School.

Watching the trailer you might think that this is another in a long line of quirky romantic comedies featuring dancing as a plot line. If you thought that you would indeed be right….well, half right anyway. Frank Keane is a breadmaker, and a widower…one who continues to acutely feel the pain of the loss of his spouse. The therapy group that Frank attends with other widowed men appears to be going down the same road that Frank is, the road to nowhere. That is until a meeting with destiny leads Frank Keane to Marilyn Hotchkiss’ infamous Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. One lindy later Frank begins to see a possible new rhythym to his life.

That is the half of the film you see in in the trailer. The half you don’t see…the half that adds poignancy, depth, and meaning to the good but otherwise cliched tale, is the intersecting story of a character played by John Goodman. There is a reason that John Goodman is seen in the trailer in name only and to discuss this plot line more would be to ruin the experience. Suffice it to say that it is a great storyline, John Goodman is terrific and he is not alone.

For a small film Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School boasts a stellar cast of actors/actresses that must have agreed to do this film simply out of the love of making fun movies. Many of the actors/actresses in this film headline other films but here they play small but significant roles that really matter. Robert Carlyle plays Frank Keane as the kind of warm, caring everyman that you immediately embrace. Frank’s therapy group led by Rafael Horowitz (David Paymer) includes small roles by Sean Astin, Adam Arkin, Ernie Hudson, and Miguel Sandoval. They are all great but Sean Astin’s opening scene is the best. Marilyn Hotchkiss’ studio is run by her daughter Marieene, played to prim and proper perfection by the lovely Mary Steenburgen. By now you probably get the idea that this is an ensemble film. The dance class is filled with actors and actresses playing small, quirky, fun roles. Standing out in the crowd is an entertaining performance by Donnie Wahlberg as a white trash Fred Astaire wannabe and of course Marisa Tomei as the eventual love interest of our intrepid protagonist Frank. Marisa Tomei is one of those actresses who just looks beautiful no matter how made up she is and in this very understated role she really shines. Rounding out the cast is John Goodman whose opening scene pulls you into the emotional core of the film and a fun cameo by Danny Devito.

Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School started out life as a short film 15 years ago written by director Randall Miller and his wife, producer Jody Savin. What makes this interesting is that Miller uses the footage of the short film as the flashback sequences in John Goodman’s tale. The flashback scenes from Marilyn Hotchkiss’ school are shot in a grainy, home movie quality that sets the mood perfectly for those scenes. In what I think is a fun piece of symmetry in the film, Elden Henson plays a small role in the bakery and is also the child actor who played the lead role in the short film 15 years ago. I sat through the whole film thinking how remarkably alike both actors looked and was thrilled to find out that they were indeed the same person.

Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is obviously a labor of love. It is a small film with a message that we may hear over and over in our daily lives and yet is one we should really take to heart. It is the message of embracing life. In a world where most movies are striving to be blockbusters, Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is striving to be just that…charming. It is a fun, romantic film with a melancholy yet hopeful undertone that adds weight to the forumlaic elements of the film. From the opening song to the ending song the film just makes you feel good. The dancing is not outstanding but that isn’t the point. In one moment late in the film Marisa Tomei’s character turns to Frank and says, “You’re a good man, Frank Keane.” And that is the point. He is a good man and in his quiet way he points us towards that same path. Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School may not win any awards but it won me over and if you see it will hopefully do the same to you.