# Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 (1998)

### reviewed by
Frankie Paiva

    Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 (PG) *** 1/2
    Starring Breckin Meyer, Ethan Embry
    Directed by Tim McCanlies
    A Review by Frankie Paiva

Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 is moviemaking gem. Yes, it does belong in the barrel of teen films with good looking stars, but that's about it. Instead of filling our heads with stupid romances that we don't care about, and proms we will never attend, we are treated to a great 97 minute character study.

Four guys have had a solemn vow since the fifth grade that they would leave their tiny Texas town of Dancer when they graduated from high school to go to LA, get jobs, and be together. But soon their plans change.

Terrell Lee's (Peter Facinelli) father in the oil business and he wants him to run it, even though his son doesn't want to. He forbids him to go to LA and makes him stay. When Terrell Lee firsts tells the group this, they view it as betrayal, but then they also stop to think about what they will be leaving behind. What if they don't get jobs? What if they have everything they've ever needed right in front of them?

John's (Eddie Mills) dad has that 18 years and out policy, he doesn't want him to go to college, in fact, it seems as if he doesn't care about him at all. John is an excellent rancher and is faced with a big decision. Squirrel (Embry) has a new mother figure around that's trying to help him tame his wild and drunk dad, and Keller (Meyer) begins to see the flaws in the plans he made.

Another great thing about this movie is the fact the the parents are in control, aren't shut out of their child's lives, and aren't incredibly naive to the problems and things that teens are exposed to.

All four actors are wonderful in their roles, especially Embry, as the goofy Squirrel, he was a charming character that I liked and cared about. Meyer, Embry, and Facinelli (all of them also appear in Can't Hardly Wait) show fine promise as young actors in the future. The film could easily have a sequel showing what happens to the different boys if it have been more popular. Finding actual people in teen movies is hard. But there is not one stupid or stereotypical character to be found in this film, that's why I liked it so much, and that's why I give all of the 81 people that live in Dancer, Texas *** 1/2 stars.

    A Review by Frankie Paiva
    The 12 Year-Old Movie Reviewer
    E-Mail me at SwpStke@aol.com

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