The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Yeah, OK, Adam Garcia isn't the greatest actor, the story was predictable, but you can't help but sit threw this movie and not be shuffling your feet and tapping on things here and there.The performances from the cast vary. As i just mentioned Adam is not the most brilliant actor but there were times when i found myself feeling sorry for him. His character goes threw many emotional climaxes, i'd have to say the scene where he confronts his brother about sleeping with his girl was strong but then he let himself down in the kiss-and-make-up-scene. Sophie lee also could have done better than the performance she gave in this film but with a script that lacks any character depth, she had to work with what was given to her. Sam Worthington, i say the same thing as i said about lee, you can't work to your full potential when the script is what lets you down.One thing you have to remember about this film though is that it's a dance film and in the dance department, it definitely doesn't let you down. the scenes where Sean is dancing around the steel works, works so effectively and was a creative idea for how he comes up with the idea of using the steel works in his put-on show. H aving the tap dances dancing to a band was amazing. It added way more ompphhh and sent shivers down my spine.Adam Garcia is one great dancer. it's the final live show that he could show off his tap dancing abilities ( and i've developed a major crush on him after that:)) but then if you know about Adams dancing background (saturday night fever, hot shoe shuffle anyone?) then you would expect to see him burning up the floor and for you ladies, mind boggling eye candy.Overall, this film doesn't have action but it does have it's funny moments (aussie humor) definitely it's sad monument, and it really is just a coming-of-age-with-tap-shoes-on film.

I had forgotten about this film and I live in Sydney. NOT the public success it should have been and I suspect a major commercial disappointment for the ambitious producer, this film suffers so badly by stridently trying to be butch to avoid the poofy dancing thingy image. So trowled onto our heads is the "I'm tough - but I er, dance y'know" yobbo dialogue it severely pulls the patience of the audience away from enjoying the dynamic dance routines. In fact, it is also so SERIOUS and full of retarded bumpkin behaviour, someone forgot the jokes. BILLY ELLIOTT and FULL MONTY cover the same industrial tough family territory but they have hilarious moments and are properly fleshed out characters. BOOTMEN is just crude and embarrassing...until the dancing starts. Director andChoreographer extraordinaire Dein Perry upon whom this is based and whose live shows were a massive hit in the 90s mis-serves this Barry McKenzie take on his craft. One can see the stardom on the horizon for Adam Garcia but it is Sam Worthington who is the major talent here. He is only NOW just getting the recognition he deserves from SOMERSAULT just released. Viewers should check out the excellent crime caper DIRTY DEEDS for another level of his talent. BOOTMEN got the boot on first release and on TV as it is tonight, is is still a cringing experience...until the dance numbers (and they all shutup and concentrate). The awful Ric Carter, a failed 80s comedian is the absolute worst of this bad drama (but good dance pic).

Yes, I thought the dancing was awesome. Just a pity to have to sit through such a tedious and poorly thought-out non-story to enjoy those few minutes of it.Nothing fitted. Nothing added up. Sean set off from Newcastle to Sydney like he was going to the end of the world, when it's a journey he would do on his motorbike in well under the running time of the movie. He's landed a part performing in the chorus of a big dance show there - his big break towards stardom. Does his beloved Linda drive down in that fast sports car of hers to see him on opening night? No, she sits at home by the phone waiting for him to ring. Aaaaaaaaaaah! Sophie Lee as bimbo extraordinaire! Guess all she had to do was act naturally.But it was all part of a plot that was totally pathetic. Just not credible. Right from the start of the movie the horrid nasty baddy and his gang of thugs had been in an escalating crime war with Mitch as their sole adversary. And this ends with a scene on a high overhead gantry with the baddie drawing a vicious knife and trying to gut the unarmed Mitch like a fish. Yet he is apparently horrified, remorseful even, when Mitch falls to his death in trying to escape him. "Strictly Ballroom" wove a plot that had lots of elements of fantasy, but beautifully depicted them thus amidst the sequins and glitter. That was why it was able to succeed so very well as a dance movie with a story to tell and a tearjerker happy ending. "Bootmen" couldn't or wouldn't leave for single second the grim reality of its harsh meanstreets and decaying heavy industry backdrop, and asked us to accept strictly at face value a story that was just woefully full of holes. 1 point for the plot, 5 for the dancing. Total 6/10

I took tap for a good portion of my life and am very excited to see a movie showing the kind of tap that is really done. Not that hokey "putting on the ritz" type. And these dancers---- WOW! They made me want to get up and dance again. And there was a plot, too. A plot that did not get lost under the taps. A good movie with incredible dancing. See it just for the ending at least!