SHE DANCES

(director/writer: Rick Gomez; screenwriter: Steve Zahn; cinematographer: David Morrison; editor: Coby Toland; music: Joshua Gomez; cast: Steve Zahn (Jason), Ethan Hawke (Brian), Sonequa Martin-Green (Jamie, dance coach), Mackenzie Ziegler (Kat), Rosemarie DeWitt (Deb), Audrey Zahn (Claire), Haley Fish (Maria, dance rival); Runtime: 93; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jenny Gomez, Mandi Reno, Jenifer Westphal, Steve Zahn, Rick Gomez, Coby Toland, Jason Reed; Wavelength; 2025)

“I lost interest well-before the final credits.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The debut directorial feature film for Rick Gomez is co-written by him and its star Steve Zahn. Its title is derived from a t-shirt worn by a parent that says: “My girl? She dances.”

Split-screens are employed throughout, which don’t always work.

It’s overly emotional, awkwardly executed, and the dialogue is clumsy.

The middle-aged Jason (Steve Zahn) is divorced from his wife Deb (Rosemarie DeWitt) and estranged from his teenage dancer daughter Claire (Audrey Zahn, Steve’s real-life daughter).

Jason emotionally falls apart when his son Jack dies. While depressed he sells his part of the distillery business to his partner friend Brian (Ethan Hawke). 

In an emergency, Deb looks after her injured mother and Jason is asked to drive Claire to a dance competition in another state and to act as her chaperone. This upsets both the withdrawn dad and the not receptive Claire, who doesn’t want to go with such a square. But he reluctantly drives Claire and her bestie dance partner Kat (Mackenzie Ziegler), giving them a chance to bond.

It serves as a “love letter” from a father to his daughter. But the story was not compelling, and I lost interest well-before the final credits.

It played at the Tribeca Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 8/25/2025  GRADE: C+
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