The extremely likable Nick Frost is the driving force behind this rather lumpen British romcom about a one-time salsa champion slipping back into the alligator shoes in pursuit of love. Frost plays world-weary schlub Bruce Garrett, a man whose only passion appears to be lathes and whose social circle comprises a couple of dorks with whom he plays golf and compares recent sexual failures. Upon discovering that his glamorous new boss (Rashida Jones) has a soft spot for salsa herself, Bruce resolves to get his own act back in gear, but to do so he most overcome the spectre of childhood bullying brought on by excessive sequin wearing.
An early scene of Frost forlornly spooning yoghurt from four mini-tubs sets expectations high; he's a sure-footed physical comedian whose deadpan timing finds comic detail in the most mundane action. Sadly, the film itself is not so nimble, with a creaky script and televisual direction leaving the increasingly contrived narrative flailing around on the dramatic dancefloor. There's no lack of effort from the cast, however, with Olivia Colman in vibrant form as Bruce's brassy, cocktail-mixing sister, Kayvan Novak turning it up to 11 as a flamboyant lover of flat Fanta, and Chris O'Dowd proving thoroughly smackable as the lecherous office wag.
