Jumpin Movie Reviews

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Family movie reviews for "Jumpin" sorted by average review score:
This Joint Is Jumpin'
Released in DVD by Image Entertainment (08 May, 2001)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Brian Setzer Orchestra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
With a title taken from a Fats Waller tune from the Swing Era of the '20s and '30s, This Joint Is Jumpin' traces the development of the energetic music and dances of that period, which are in vogue today. If you were lucky enough to have caught the documentary Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns, you saw the fabulous dances, like the Jitterbug and the Lindy Hop, that are featured here. This collection shows that the acoustic big-band sounds and the human-to-human dance steps that marked the heyday of the Swing Era have made a glorious comeback in today's technology-dominated era. New artists like Brian Setzer and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy are beautifully contrasted with vintage clips featuring the big-band sounds of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, reminding us of the magnificent musicians who gave us the grand grooves that inspired these immortal American dances. --Eugene Holley Jr.
Average review score:

A Big Disappointment
I bought this with the expectation that I would be rewarded with a lot of great performances but what I got was just bits and pieces of performances and lots of documentary. I was especially looking forward to seeing Brian Setzer perform, but there is next to nothing by him on this DVD... I want music, not jibber jabber!!! Don't waste your money.

Excellent showcase of America's national dance
This Joint Is Jumpin' is an unexpected delight. With the combination of plenty of clips from the swing era alongside footage and commentary from present day Lindy Hoppers and musicians, the documentary shows how the swing era resonates even today.

The famous Hellzapoppin' routine by Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, with comments from Normal Miller and Frankie Manning is a highlight. Musical artists include Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Louis Prima, Brian Setzer, Atomic Fireballs, Royal Crown Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. There are plenty of artists missing from the story, but this isn't meant to be a comprehensive history so much as a celebration of swing.

The strongest aspect of the movie is the generous attention given to Lindy Hop (swing dancing), drawing on present day dancers such as Erin Stevens, Ryan Francois, and Marcus Koch to describe the revival of America's national dance in from late 1980s to now, when it again enjoys enthusiastic and widespread popularity around the world.

Related Subjects: Games