They had me at Nick Frost dancing and from the first scene this unusual leading man stole my heart! I always root for the underdog. Especially when it’s Nick Frost who I find incredibly funny! In this film he’s Bruce Garrett is a chubby ‘everyman’ who works in a cube farm, goes home alone and just lives a bit of a dull life. Everything changes when Julia joins his office and as he gets to know her he begins to change. He rediscovers his passion and decides to woo her with salsa! A dance form he abandoned as a child after being bullied by a bunch of ruffians. Of course love isn’t smooth and his new arch nemesis Drew (Chris O’Dowd) is the bully in the way of his true love. The cast is rounded out by Sam (Olivia Colman) his sister and teen salsa partner and Bejan (Kawan Novak) who is a major scene stealer!
James Griffiths (Director) has a deft hand making you root for the underdog but also makes sure all of the cast’s characters are flushed out to make them ‘real’ with their own quirks that make you love’m and hate’m! James did a great job with Nick being incredibly light on his feet in the dance scenes. I saw a screening at the Arclight in Hollywood where he and the director did a Q&A. Nick trained for six months before the film started since he’d never danced before (never would have guessed from his slick salsa movies!) and was joined by the rest of the cast with an additional 3 months of training for the dance scenes. I asked what it was like to be cast as a leading man and he said he did ‘what the role’ called for as an actor. He mentioned that he came up with the story idea a few years ago but was busy with other projects (Hot Fuzz, Paul and other collaborations) so put it on the back burner till he had time. I’m sure being the leading man without Simon Pegg must have been a bit odd (but Simon did make a bit of a surprise peek). This was the first time that James and Nick worked together but they did such a bangup job am hoping it won’t be the last. Nick’s work as a romantic leading man shows off his range and his heart that wants to tell his stories to an audience ready for a bit of a bear!
I’m giving this film a B+ because it made me want to dance in my seat with hot fiery beat, fall in love with Bruce and want my own Bejan to go salsa with and critique my wardrobe!
What do you think of Nick Frost as a romantic lead? Let me know below!
From the team behind Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead
Spotlight hits, sweat drips, heels click – Nick Frost IS Cuban Fury !
Beneath Bruce Garrett’s shabby, overweight exterior, the passionate beating heart of a salsa king lays dormant. Only one woman can reignite his Latin fire. Spotlight hits, sweat drips, heels click – Nick Frost IS Cuban Fury.
CUBAN FURY
Directed by James Griffiths (Up All Night, Free Agents)
Starring Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul), Rashida Jones (The Social Network, I Love You, Man), Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Pirate Radio) & Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, Hyde Park on Hudson, Tyrannosaur)
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