I’m not much of a dancer. Never have been, really. Something about being born with zero coordination. But after a viewing of British director James Griffiths’ 'Cuban Fury', I asked myself: “Would I like to learn?”
The answer was, well…. sort of. And so I realised that while 'Cuban Fury' made me feel like salsa dancing could be fun, it didn’t make me feel a whole lot else.
Bruce Garrett (Nick Frost) was “The Boy With Fire In His Heels”, a teenage salsa dancing prodigy who, after a run in with bullies, gives up his dancing shoes for a duller life as an engineer. Fast forward to adulthood and Garrett’s passion for dance is sparked once again by his attractive new boss (Rashida Jones), who herself has the flame of salsa in her eyes.
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For the most part, the cast of 'Cuban Fury' does an impressive job (as they should, with the likes of Chris O’Dowd, Ian McShane and Olivia Colman on board) and Frost holds them together as the shy protagonist. Kayvan Novak completely steals the show as Garrett’s hilariously effeminate friend while Chris O’Dowd takes the role of workplace bully and all-round douchebag to a level that will have audiences wanting to start throwing punches.
Although British director James Griffiths steers a somewhat clunky script well, 'Cuban Fury' is a film that seems to trip over its own feet (pun intended, sadly). Unabashedly a comedy, when moments of true tenderness and emotional depth are at hand (such as Nick Frost’s meetings with his sister Sam, as played with vibrant wit by Olivia Colman), the film seemingly gets cold feet and quickly heads down the easy comedic route before something genuinely touching can happen.
One would naturally assume a comedy built on the premise of a larger man salsa dancing would mean that either the dancing would be surprisingly impressive, or woefully entertaining. 'Cuban Fury' balances of the edge of neither, and the film tries to find its zest mostly in the script, rather than its narrative. While possessing many well-crafted moments, there’s a slightly television mini series feel to the film that makes an audience wonder when the next commercial break will be.
Despite the areas of confusion in what kind of film it wants to be, 'Cuban Fury' hits most of the funny bones it aims for and it has an energetic cast to thank. It didn’t make me want to take up the hobby, but it sure as hell opened my mind to rhinestone studded silk clothing options.
★★
