Fast Forward Reviews

FAST FORWARD tells the story of the Adventurous Eight, a racially mixed group of teenage dancers from Ohio. Just like Mickey Rooney before him, the youths' leader, John Scott Clough, dreams of leading his gang to fame. To this end, they journey to New York, hoping to audition for a dance contest sponsored by a large management organization. Unfortunately, they are shocked to find their sole contact in the city has died, and they are left stranded in the Big Apple, needing to devise an alternate plan of attack or forgo their shot at stardom. Electing to face the challenge and stay in New York, they encounter the usual hustlers, con artists, and the like, all the while striving to get their big break. The producers looked at more than 3,000 young performers before settling on the octet chosen, all of whom are better dancers than actors. These kids are just too sweet to be true, and they aren't helped by pedestrian direction by Sidney Poitier and a banal script. The choreography is first rate, though, and the tunes enliven matters.