Blu-ray Review – Heavenly Bodies

When "Flashdance" was released in 1983, expectations for the feature were tempered. It was a highly stylized offering of dance and music aimed at a younger audience, using MTV-style visuals of the day to deliver a basic story of determination and romance. While it debuted second at the box office during its release weekend (unable to match the Chuck Norris-starring actioner, "Lone Wolf McQuade"), "Flashdance" found its footing soon after, topping the charts for the next three weeks, also launching a wildly successful soundtrack to keep the "Feelin'" going for the rest of the year. It's only natural that other producers wanted in on the action, resulting in a few knock offs, including 1984's "Heavenly Bodies" (released in the U.S. in 1985), which trades the steel industry and glossy cinematography for the world of aerobics, also trying to ride a fitness trend to monetary glory. The gods of instant profitability weren't kind to "Heavenly Bodies" (which opened in ninth place on the box office chart, only to plunge 90% in its second week) but there's a decently entertaining picture to enjoy here. Co-writer/director Lawrence Dane goes simple with the endeavor, supplying enough musical moments and earnest character actions to support the viewing experience. It's not a rousing study of fortitude, but the effort has a certain spark, greatly enhanced by star Cynthia Dale's heroic commitment to every moment of her performance. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com