Shake Your (Broken) Hips

Comments (0) By Jennifer Elaine Davis Thursday, Jan 21 2010

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There seems to be a new trend in documentary film-making these days that attempts to impart a definite "feel-good" vibe along with a heaping dose of inspiration. At least that's what I thought when I started watching 2007's Young @ Heart, one of the shining examples of the new "Hey, Look What Old People Can Do" documentary style that's slowly taking over the hearts and minds of film festival juries. That movie looked so cute--85-year-old grandmothers harmonizing to Sonic Youth songs and trying to get down the nuances on Ramones anthems. And then, at the end of the movie (SPOILER ALERT), people die. People who just a few days ago were jamming to James Brown. And suddenly the feel-good movie of the year was utterly depressing. It was a total bait and switch. This is why I am wary of Gotta Dance, this year's entry into the burgeoning genre of geriatric can-do film. This documentary examines the evolution of a senior citizen hip-hop team for the New Jersey Nets. Along the way, expect lots of jokes about hip injuries, and hilarious scenes of grandpa attempting to bump and grind. And then, prepare yourself for the inevitable. 'Cause no matter how well a 70-year-old can get down to "Jenny on the Block," everyone's gotta go sometime. Check out Gotta Dance at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., at 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8.50. Visit themodern.org/magnolia.
Jan. 22-24, 2010