Review: Every Little Step (2009)

[Steve Rhodes]

EVERY LITTLE STEP
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2009 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****):  *** 1/2

EVERY LITTLE STEP, by directors Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern, is a 
documentary that follows people auditioning for a musical about people 
auditioning for a musical.  So does the mere description of this documentary 
about people auditioning to get parts of the Broadway revival of "A Chorus 
Line" have your heading spinning?

Well, don't worry.  EVERY LITTLE STEP won't leave your head spinning for 
long, since it's a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film that will 
captivate your head and your heart, especially the latter.

The film works marvelously well on two separate levels.  In addition to the 
obvious part of following the dancers through their trials and tribulations, 
their joys and their heartbreaks, the movie is riveting in the background 
material it provides about how "A Chorus Line" was first conceived and 
developed.  Think of EVERY LITTLE STEP as "So You Think You Can Dance?" as 
The History Channel might produce it.  And, speaking of "So You Think You 
Can Dance?", Tyce DiOrio from that dance competition show -- where he was 
first a contestant and is now a choreographer -- is one of the dancers who 
is seen auditioning in EVERY LITTLE STEP.

"A Chorus Line" was originally conceived in 1974 by choreographer Michael 
Bennett when he got a group of dancers together to talk about their lives 
and dreams.  He made a long series of audio tapes of these discussions, and, 
from these tapes, he came up with the musical about auditioning for a 
musical.  As we watch an old reel-to-reel tape player spin, we get to hear 
selections from the original tapes.  The editor, thankfully, knows just how 
much of this to use, since watching a tape whirl can be deadly dull if 
overdone, which it never is in EVERY LITTLE STEP.

While the background story about the original concept of "A Chorus Line" is 
consistently fascinating, as is the old, poor quality film footage of the 
original production, it isn't the best part of EVERY LITTLE STEP.  What 
really makes the film come alive are the auditions, as we observe three 
thousand dancers answer an open call for a 2006 Broadway revival of the 
famous musical.

If you've ever tried out for a part or interviewed for any job you wanted 
really, really bad, then EVERY LITTLE STEP will speak to you directly.  As 
the number of people competing for each role gets reduced, you'll soon feel 
like every dancer has become your best friend, and you'll be rooting for 
them all to get the part, even though, logically, you know that many will 
still have to be cut.  By the "final, final call back," you'll be on pins 
and needles worrying about who among your newfound friends will have to go.

But, as sorry as you'll be when people aren't picked, you be overjoyed with 
those who are.  Don't be surprised if you, too, shed a tear or two along 
with the dancers when they are picked for the role of a lifetime.  It's that 
kind of film.  It really gets to you, in a good way.

EVERY LITTLE STEP runs 1:36.  It is rated PG-13 for "some strong language 
including sexual references" and would be acceptable for kids around 9 and 
up.

The film opens in limited release in the United States on Friday, May 8, 
2009.

Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: Steve.Rhodes at InternetReviews.com

***********************************************************************

Want reviews of new films via Email?
Just write Steve.Rhodes at InternetReviews.com and put "subscribe" in the 
subject line.