Take the Lead

For the true story, and a vastly better film, rent Mad Hot Ballroom instead | Andrew Coffin

Take the Lead is an "easy fix" movie, a Hollywood contrivance nailed in Thank You for Smoking (see "Blowing smoke," April 15). When a tobacco lobbyist meets a Hollywood super-agent to concoct a campaign to make cigarettes cool again using a futuristic sci-fi film, the lobbyist worries, "But wouldn't [cigarettes] blow up in an all-oxygen environment?" "Probably," says the Hollywood agent. "But it's an easy fix. One line of dialogue. 'Thank God we invented the . . . you know, whatever device.'"

The far-fetched Take the Lead (rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence) suffers doubly because anyone who has seen the excellent 2005 documentary Mad Hot Ballroom knows how good the source material is, and how far this film is from it.

ACCESS THIS ARTICLE IMMEDIATELY AND RECEIVE ONE MONTH OF ONLINE ACCESS AND TWO ISSUES OF WORLD'S PRINT EDITION—ALL FOR JUST $5. SEE THE NEW SUBSCRIBER BOX BELOW.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PRINT OR ONLINE-ONLY SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE LOG IN BELOW.

The complete article is ~352 words long

Current Subscriber

Magazine
Subscriber

Online-Only
Subscriber

Click here for other subscription options that also will enable you to access this article.

New Subscriber

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and one-month access to WORLD's subscriber-only online content — plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD's print edition — all for just $5*.

Want a different type of subscription? Click the following links for Online-Only Subscription options or Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $34.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

NEED HELP? Call 800-951-6397, Monday-Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, or send email to customerservice@worldmag.com.

Copyright © 2012 God's World Publications
All rights reserved
Articles may not be reproduced without permission
April 22, 2006, Vol. 21, No. 16

Illegal passage Apr. 15, 2006	Who's laughing now? Apr. 8, 2006	History speaks Apr. 1, 2006
Broken promises Mar. 25, 2006	WORLD's 20th Anniversary Mar. 18, 2006	Looking for votes Mar. 11, 2006