Strictly - Movie Night

[zico]

We start off with the pro dancers doing a Harry Potter themed routine. AJ needs aging make-up to look old enough to be in high school. Shirley is dressed as Miss Havisham complete with shawl, so she clearly has great expectations for tonight. Claudia is in white – what’s happened to her black dresses?

Vick & Graziano (Salsa). They’re dancing to Abba from the Mamma Mia musical. Their routine involves Vick leaning on a window while Graziano dances, then Vick sits on a chair that he pushes around, then they both push the chair and after a while longer Vick eventually puts in a few salsa steps. She’s not bad, but Uncle Len would be fulminating at all this faffing and flatulating. 6,7,7,7 for 27 points.

Ranj & Janette (Quickstep). Ranj is a prince from Aladdin and arrives on a purple elephant before jumping off and doing a lack-lustre routine in a lack-lustre way. Considering it’s a quickstep, it’s not quick, and there aren’t many steps. Disappointing choreography from Janette. Craig is not impressed while Bruno falls off his chair for no apparent reason. 4,5,5,6 for 20.

Lee & Nadija (Cha-cha). They’ve dug out the crazy frizzy blonde wig from the Strictly dressing-up box and Nadija starts well with a solo spot, while Lee flies around on a hoverboard. Lee has several sweaters and a gilet, maybe he’s feeling the cold, but as for his dancing, it all looks like, well, it would be a bit mean and I don’t like to say – so over to you Craig, “just a lot of camp mincing around”. Lee gets plenty more criticism for his legs being too soft and takes it all well. 3,5,5,6 for 19 points.

Kate & Aljaz (Foxtrot). Aljaz is dressed as a Playboy bunny and Kate is doing Jessica from Roger Rabbit with a red wig that actually looks like a cartoon wig. She makes a dramatic burlesque-style entrance from behind a curtain, and nearly follows up with an even more dramatic tumble down the stairs, but laughs and recovers quickly. She’s quite good in this, and really plays her part to the full. Darcey tells her she has a cabaret artist inside her, and praises her recovery. Scores of 6,7,8,8 for 29 make Aljaz a happy bunny.

Stacey & Kevin (Jive). I have a sneaking suspicion this couple may not be the costume department’s favourites to judge from their Minion outfits complete with ludicrous pigtails, thick goggles and yellow-painted faces. However, as often seems to happen, when people have over-the-top outfits, they dance better. This is really good, sharp and lively from Stacey in an energetic routine with no filler that’s a lot of fun. Kevin is out of breath at the end, pretend-collapses on the floor and Stacey drags him over to the judges. Positive comments all around and 4 x 8’ = 32.

Joe & Diane (American Smooth). This is dull and Joe’s posture is poor. Judges note all that but praise him for musicality or something and give him 6,7,6,7 for 26.

Graeme & Oti (Charleston). Graeme is Spiderman and starts by hanging upside-down before disappearing while Oti dance. So far, so good. But then Graeme reappears, Actually he is a whole lot better than previously, keeping bang on time, and doing swivels, and is almost enjoyable to watch. Craig says “welcome back to the competition” and Bruno says he’s gone from zero to superhero. Graeme name-checks his kids Charlotte, Jessica and Wilfrid and says they are what keeps him going. At this rate, he’ll have them alongside him next week when facing the judges like Kavanaugh with his kids! 7,8,8,8 for 31 points.

Ashley & Pasha (Salsa). Yet another Strictly Dirty Dancing routine and talk of whether trained dancer Ashley will be able to do The Lift. Don’t be silly, of course she will, and she duly does. Not a lot of proper salsa hip movement for Ashley, which Craig points out, and this comment gets him into a good-natured bitchy banterfest with Bruno. Darcey mentions The Lift is tough, and she did it hundreds of times in her career (probably with 100% success rate). 8,9,9,9 gives Ashley 35.

Katie & Gorka (Foxtrot). They do a routine to a song from La La Land. It’s simple and effective, and both the nation and the judges are all pleased to see Katie relax and enjoy a dance. Not a lot of tricky content, but nobody cares. Katie says she feels like it’s a small victory. 5,5,6,6 for 22 points.

Seann & Katya (Paso). They’re dancing to the Matrix theme, complete with Seann being wired up and flying about. Seann has a black plastic frockcoat and Katya is dressed as a dominatrix, so good already. The actual routine is just great, with an amazing sideways lift from the floor and a slow-motion bit which references the film. Seann is deadly serious here and this is easily the most entertaining dance of the night. Craig praises the power and passion in the routine. Deserved praise from most of the judges for Katya’s brilliant choreography. 7,7,8,8 for 30 points.

Lauren & AJ (Cha-cha). For the first time, Lauren performs exactly like an athlete who’s uncomfortable about putting on a skimpy costume and dancing about in front of millions of people. Shirley bizarrely tells her she has a “fantastically built leg”, what about the other leg, isn’t that fantastic too. Reminds me of the old Peter Cook audition sketch “I’ve nothing against your leg. Unfortunately, neither have you”. Darcey says she should over-exaggerate her moves, and Bruno says “sell, sell, sell. 4,5,5,6 for 20.

Charles & Karen (American Smooth). Dancing to tune from Officer and a Gentleman which gives Charles the chance to dress up in Navy whites. Bit dull, but with some interesting lifts. Judges’ remarks boil down to saying Charles isn’t really musical. 6,6,6,7 for 25 points.

Faye & Giovanni (Quickstep). Dancing to “You’re the one that I want” from “Grease”. Faye has the attitude and the moves. This is a super-fast quickstep which establishes Faye as current top dancer on the show and brings out the first “fab-u-lous” of the series from Craig. 4 x 9 = 36.

Danny & Amy (Paso). “Greatest Showman” is the tune, and in a reversal of many couples’ routine, Danny does a solo spot while Amy descends from the ceiling on a trapeze ring. In Zico Towers we think Danny is a bit stiff with not enough Spanish line, and are pleased when Craig says exactly the same thing. Somehow they just aren’t looking like a proper partnership, despite Danny’s undoubted dancing skill and experience. 6,7,7,8 for 28 points.

That’s all folks and Faye is top with Lee (just) bottom with Lauren a point above him. Bottom 2 is difficult to call, as lowest scorers are more likely to have a sympathy vote, but I’ll predict Lauren and Lee, though wouldn’t be at all surprised to see someone from mid-table dropping into the bottom 2.

Overall, a mixed night. Usually on movie night, there’s one comedy dancer whose routine is mostly taken up with props and faffing around, but tonight there were a lot of couples using the props as a way to shorten their routines and reduce the content their celeb had to learn. Seann and Katya with the stand-out dance of the series so far. Faye is not only a great dancer but seems to be a really nice person and a lot of fun.

RESULTS SHOW

Dancers start off with a routine that’s a mix of Singing in the Rain and some rap (to be down with the millions of teenagers who they fondly imagine might be watching). The world is back to normal again as Claudia is in black.

Time for some results – Ashley was 2nd with the judges, but is still somehow surprised to be put through, while Lauren is very relieved and more understandably surprised to be through. Graeme and Danny are through, and then Charles is first in the dance-off, mouthing “wow” as he’s announced. Then Stacey, Joe, Kate and Katie (much to her surprise) are put through. Lee is still up there so almost certain he’s just not popular enough, and he looks pretty despondent.

Musical interlude is from Gladys Knight, but not the Pips, singing “Licence to Kill” probably the worst song ever. I thought we all get older, but Gladys hasn’t aged a day since I last saw her about 30 years ago. Her voice is also great. Song’s still rubbish though.

Seann & Katya are put through and celebrate madly, with Katya falling off the step, then Faye and Vick go through. Leaving just a very nervous Ranj and Lee, but it’s Lee (again) in the bottom two. Shirley tells him she doesn’t know why it is that the public don’t care for him at all.

Claudia interviews all the happy couples through to next week, except for Seann and Katya – there’s a reason for this.

In the DDO, both couples dance just as well (or badly) as first time round, and Charles scored more before, so inevitably he’s through, although Shirley says she would have voted for Lee. He takes it well, and Nadija tells him “I love you so much” but probably not the sort of love that will mean she ever wants to see him again.

P.S. Scandal and the “Strictly curse” strikes again. Seann and Katya were pictured snogging and messing about in the street by the red-tops who are printing the story of how terrible it is that they’re betraying their partners by being caught by the paps and having their photos splashed all over the papers. They’ve both issued humble apologies on Twitter, but sadly, this’ll probably mean they’re toast next week with a probably unforgiving public.