If you mixed So You Think You Can Dance with Fame you'd have a fair estimation of how Freeze Frame pans out. Which is fitting, considering that it's written, directed and choreographed by Fame alumnus, So You Think You Can Dance judge Debbie Allen. Freeze Frame tells the story of the students in Allen's dance academy in vignettes; kids dealing gangs, drugs and impossible expectations.
It's serious stuff but unfortunately the various sequences aren't particular cohesive; the plot is completely abandoned approximately five minutes after being introduced. Potentially interesting stories aren't explored; there's too much being jammed into 90 minutes. Freeze Frame would be greatly improved by having the last two minutes of every vignette, solo and musical number cut and half the cast let go.
Dancers are lamentably underutilised. Primary character Vivian Nixon ('Eartha') is clearly a beautiful dancer; her musculature gives away the kind of discipline that can't be feigned but she's never allowed to let loose. Matthew Johnson has movie star charisma, regularly stealing scenes, but even he is stymied by convoluted plotting.
It's entertaining in a mass consumption kind of way; at closing the audience is on its feet to applaud, so there's a good chance this reviewer is in the losing minority. It's hugely entertaining, and for most people that'll be enough.
