Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageStepping Out (1991)
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Schlepping out, more like. Another feel-good movie to follow Shirley Valentine, this is set in a New York dance class run by feisty coulda-been Mavis (Minnelli), who had her week of glory understudying on Broadway. Now, her career hampered by her boyfriend's ego, fulfilment lies in teaching a lovable bunch of stereotypes and social inadequates under the steely eye of cantankerous pianist Winters. Asked to stage a routine for a charity show, Mavis has to whip these no-hopers into a crack corps de tap. This isn't a Willy Russell job, but the rules are the same: plain folk overcome problems in one life-affirming moment, braving the disapproval of society and/or him at home. There's little room for a strong cast to manoeuvre. Minnelli plies her gamine act likeably, although when it comes to her big 'what good is it sitting alone in your room' closer, tacked on as a cynical box-office sop, she's the same old Liza with a Zzzz. Gilbert opens up Richard Harris' church-hall bound stage play with all the visual flair of a sitcom episode.Author: JRo
Cast & crew
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Producer: Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Liza Minnelli, Shelley Winters, Robyn Stevan, Jane Krakowski, Bill Irwin, Ellen Greene, Sheila McCarthy, Andrea Martin, Julie Walters, Carol Woods, Luke Reilly, Nora Dunn full cast
Genre(s): Musicals
Duration: 110 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Michael Jackson's This Is It: review
Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas
Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace
From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'
Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her
How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life
Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now