Danica McKellar Delivers an Outstanding Dance Performance in Great American Family's "Swing into Romance"
When former dancer Christine Sims temporarily returns to her hometown in time for the town's Fall Festival, she discovers her family's General Store is in trouble. In her efforts to save the business, Christine will need to dust off her dancing shoes once more, face her ex-fiancé, and maybe even find love.
Starring: Danica McKellar, David Haydn-Jones, and Gleb Savchenko
Image: Great American Media
My Movie Grade: A
Danica McKellar Dances Like a Professional in Swing into Romance
Danica McKellar is no stranger to the dance world. She competed on Dancing with the Stars during season 18 in 2014, landing in sixth place.
Before her costar and choreographer were even cast for Swing into Romance, McKellar started training with a dance coach to get back in shape. A self-proclaimed workaholic, McKellar thoroughly prepares for her roles so she can do the best job possible.
Of co-star Gleb Savchenko, McKellar gushes, "...dancing with him is some of the most fun I have ever had on a movie set!" Her enjoyment shines through to the viewers. She is radiant and projects confidence during her dance performance, and her moves are fluid, strong, and perfectly timed.
The romcom world was enchanted in 2020 when Lacey Chabert donned dance shoes to team up with Will Kemp for the most watched cable movie of 2020--Christmas Waltz. Chabert admitted that the role took her out of her comfort zone because she was not a dancer, although she delivered a lovely performance.
In comparison, McKellar's dancing skills surpass Chabert's. While McKellar has the advantage of her experience on DWTS to draw from, her love of the art itself gives her performance greater heart. Chabert counts steps in her head and focuses on proper execution. McKellar dances with her soul.
I want to see McKellar dance in another GAF movie. How about you?
Swing into Romance Fun Facts:
McKellar's mom was a professional dancer before she was born, so Danica concludes, "the love of dance is in my genes."
Knowing that she wanted to star in a dance movie, McKellar's husband, Scott Sveslosky, wrote the story behind Swing into Romance even though he's an attorney and not a writer!
McKellar is one of the executive producers of Swing into Romance.
If you take all the fall garlands from the set of Swing into Romance, you could wrap them around the Earth four times.
(Maybe I made that one up.)
Image: Great American Media
Swing into Romance Celebrates Family
Swing into Romance is a movie that emphasizes family bonds, which is what GAF is all about.
Despite being awarded her dream job, Christine chooses family over a career. Our culture needs this message. She puts her skills to work to help her family save their business. It's a form of self-sacrifice that might seem foreign in our narcissistic age, but in putting others first, Christine finds happiness, too.
Did you catch the scene where Christine's parents pass the evening playing Go Fish? No one is glued to a device or a screen. It's about spending quality time with family.
Random Thoughts on Swing into Romance
Matthew's daughter, Taylor, can't get marigolds to grow in her garden. The soil is blamed. No one apparently realizes that marigolds are a warm-weather flower that flourish in the hot summer sun. They are not supposed to be planted in the Fall. Mums would have been the better choice.
It's a refreshing twist that Christine and Matthew do not win first place in the competition. Fans want a happy ending, but when the main characters always come out on top, movies become too predicable. It's fun not knowing if the couple will win or lose, and we still arrive at a satisfying conclusion.
Similarly, the solution for saving the family's general store isn't a carbon copy of past romcoms. Thank God the answer wasn't turning the property into a "venue!" That resolution has been beat to death. For Christine's parents, things will get better over time and through a process. They have to develop and seed an unused plot of land, take advantage of state and local tax credits, and get a farm loan if their business hopes to survive. This is a more realistic approach to achieving their goal.
Christine can't dance with someone she doesn't trust, so when she runs to Matthew for the lift at the end of their dance number, it cements their relationship. I love this scene because it reminds me of Dirty Dancing when Baby finds the courage to leap into Johnny's arms for the lift.
What did you think of the kiss? Most GAF fans want movies to stay clean, but many of us are disappointed when all the chemistry and tension builds up to a brief peck on closed lips. Matthew lays a kiss on Christine like he's about to devour her. Let's have more of that kind of kiss!
Who Is Gleb Savchenko?
Gleb Savchenko is a Dancing with the Stars pro who first appeared on the show in 2013 and then returned in 2016. He's been a pro cast member ever since.
Savchenko plays Christine's ex-dance partner AND ex-fiancé who competes against her and Matthew during the regionals.
Who is this gorgeous specimen, and is he single?
Image: Great American Media
Savchenko was married to Elena Samodanova for 14 years. The couple divorced in 2020, and they have two daughters, Olivia and Zlata. Samodanova announced the split on Instagram stating, "I don't hate you, I'm just disappointed you turned into everything you said you'd never be."
Heavy reports that in 2021, Savchenko began dating Swedish model and reality TV star, Elena Belle, but that the two appear to be finished as of October 2023. Some fans speculate the two will patch things up while others suspect he could be romantically linked to recently divorced DWTS dance pro, Emma Slater.
Swing into Romance is Savchenko's first acting role, but you'd never know it. While he mentored McKellar in dancing, she mentored him in acting. The result? A phenomenally enjoyable performance from each of them!
Despite Savchenko's engaging portrayal of Christine's ex, Alex, you'll be disappointed to learn that he danced in drag with his fellow season 31 dance partner, Shangela. After attending the GLAAD Media Awards, Savchenko stated on Instagram, "Being an ally for the LGBTQ+ community means so much to me, especially during this difficult time! Raising awareness and visibility and being able to show support and love and make everyone feel included and welcome is such an honor."
And, just like that, my celebrity crush is over.
You can still watch the magic happen as McKellar rehearses with Savchenko in the video above.
David Haydn-Jones Also Stars in Swing into Romance
David Haydn-Jones and McKellar have worked together before. You may remember them in Hallmark's 2016 movie, My Christmas Dream.
Haydn-Jones has appeared in several romcoms, too, in addition to his best-known role in the CW's Supernatural.
Bridal Wave (supporting role)
Haydn-Jones had three weeks to learn the dance numbers--quite a feat! McKellar, Savchenko, and Haydn-Jones joke on-set about the dancing crash course in the video below.
Haydn-Jones keeps his personal life very private, but fans who follow him on Instagram have deduced that he is married and has a daughter, though no additional details are available.
Image: Great American Media
Swing into Romance Is a Quality Movie from Great American Family
Few movies earn permanent real estate on my DVR, but Swing into Romance is worth saving, at least until a DVD is released (let's hope one will be forthcoming).
It's a quality story with great actors and mesmerizing dance routines.
If you haven't watched Swing into Romance yet, you can view the trailer below:
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