Can you say atrocious overacting? Can you say gay stereotypes as offensive as step-and-fetch-it is to blacks? It's almost looking at an amateur college production...only worse. Melanie LaPatin's acting is so over-the-top as to be laughable and never for a moment even fleetingly believable. Giving her the benefit of the doubt based on the other actor's weak performances, one would have to blame the director...or wait, it seems like it took TWO directors to create this mess. Didn't either Daniel Beahm or Erika Randall Beahm (the dueling directors here) have enough sense to yell CUT and rein in LaPatin, or Benji Schwimmer's flaming interpretation of a gay dancer which is such a stereotypical cliché that every moment he is on the screen, it is on the verge of being offensive -- not quite the equivalent gay black-face, but close enough. He is a very talented dancer, but doesn't have the acting chops needed to make his character believable or even likable. Better they should have cast a real actor for the part of the gay friend and had Schwimmer step in for the dance sequences. Then there is the problem of the director(s) not being able to decide if they wanted to make a drama (schmaltzy soap opera to be more accurate), a comedy (with nary a real laugh anywhere to be found) or just a really BAD musical. Yes, there are long, l o o o n g dance sequences and full blown songs that are inserted for no discernible dramatic purpose, nor do they move the story forward, but seem to be thrown just because they were able to get the use rights. And besides being superfluous to the story-line or to enhance the characterizations, some of them had everyone in the room groaning in pain and shouting, "Not ANOTHER one!" and "WHERE IS THE EDITOR?!" when the song went on and on thru multiple verses. This is what happens when good meaning people want to make a "socially provocative" movie about a subject that they care about (the "gay dilemma,") but they don't have a powerful script or the talent to create characters that an audience will care about. Just slapping the label "gay" on characters isn't enough to make a good movie. Exacerbate that by casting actors who can't make characters who are believable or likable, and you have the disaster LEADING LADIES. The one bright spot in this whole unfortunate mess is Laurel Vail who plays the put-upon, mousy sister and who, despite the sometimes absurd dialogue she is forced to recite and the other nonsense going on all around her, manages to hold her own, giving a quite real and touching performance. That said, it is nearly not enough to make this a movie worth spending time on.

I researched as much as I could about the making of this film before I watched it. It's intent to be available for young women who are questioning their orientation deserves 10 stars. As well as the acting, characters, dancing, and dialog.All main characters are over 20, no drugs, drinking, explicit sex, or profanity makes this a classic.As often noted in lesbian literature and magazines (e.g,Curve), there is little to nothing produced for the "big screen" that addresses what Leading Ladies does so elegantly and whimsically.I am no longer a young woman, but I cannot stop enjoying this film. As a professional who practices psychotherapy, Theam Bheam and actors displayed what the joys and risks are of coming out to oneself and others. Thank you!

I don't understand why these type of movies get made. What type? The ones with bad writing and bad direction.The concept was a great one but it was so poorly executed that it did more against the cause it was trying to give awareness to.Nobody in this movie was likable.The only reason I watched to the end was because I kept thinking of all the people who'd spend time on this movie and wanted to respect that... but this movie should never have been made.One thing I will say in it's favour though was that the music was fantastic... But please, don't waste your time or your brain cells watching this movie that is NOT funny, and NOT quirky. a high school drama production could have done better.

I saw this movie at a film festival earlier this year and am so excited that it is available to the general public now! It is a really great film about love and family, with such fantastic music and lots of spectacular dancing!It is such a sweet and heartwarming story and everyone should see it. It made me laugh and cry but ultimately I left the theater with the feeling that it is love that should lead the way in my life. The cast is wonderfully fresh and talented. Dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" show their talent and that, combined with the GREAT soundtrack, make you want to get up and dance yourself.