"Step Up"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: ** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Channing Tatum as TYLER Jenna Dewan as NORA Rated PG-13 Studio: Touchstone Directed by: Anne Fletcher Back to DVD Review Home |  |
These days it seems there is always someone in Hollywood thinking up a dance movie. Taking its cue from “Flashdance” and Save the Last Dance”, “Step Up” offers nothing new.
Tyler (Channing Tatum) is a young white boy who lives with his foster family on the urban side of Baltimore. Tyler loves hip-hop dancing and likes to show off his skills at every party he attends. One day, Tyler and his pals are fooling around and break the basement window of the Maryland School of the Arts building. Being young boys looking for trouble, the group climbs inside and creates mischief. When the janitor catches them defacing the theater set, Tyler takes the fall as his buddies run off.
Due to the large expense of the damage done, Tyler is sentenced to community service at the very school he vandalized. Luckily, the school is full of dance students walking the halls in their skimpy leotards, one of which is Nora (Jenna Dewan).
In order to graduate, Nora has to choreograph a senior piece, but her dance partner has sprained his ankle. After holding replacement auditions, Nora realizes none of the dance boys can cut it. Luckily, Tyler’s got skills.
Although the two have very different dance styles, they dance, fight, and—who didn’t see it coming—fall in love.
The opening credits feature a ballet rehearsal set to hip-hop music. This underlined for me the fact that the general public is incapable of enjoying a dance movie if hip-hop and break dancing are not included. While this is the sad truth, the dance performances were very good. Thankfully, the cast is composed of dancers who happen to be able to act, not the other way around.
The writing for “Step Up” is all over the place. Tyler goes back and forth between his priorities so many times, it’s hard to believe in his commitment at the end. Also, it may be Jenna Dewan’s (“The Grudge 2”) performance, but Nora is an absolute bitch and entirely unlikable. Lastly, an unfortunate spontaneous dance sequence deducts from the film’s credibility as a drama and not a musical.
The acting performances are not bad; no one here is winning an Oscar, but they’re not bad. I don’t know that Jenna Dewan tried really hard to portray a complete brat, but she certainly is convincing.
The DVD has more bonus features than expected. Watch the MySpace.com dance contest videos, four music videos, or watch the film with commentary by Channing Tatum (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”), Jenna Dewan and Anne Fletcher (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) the director and choreographer. I was disappointed to find the deleted scenes and bloopers were not from the dance scenes or very interesting at all. Luckily, the “Making the Moves” featurette offers discussion and behind the scenes footage of the dance sequences.
You don’t have to be a dancer to like this film, but you don’t have to be a dancer to hate it either. I would say the best way to watch this film is by skipping to the dance scenes and avoiding the plot. This DVD’s only redeeming qualities are the bonus features. So unless you want merely to watch the dance sequences and bonus items, step away from “Step Up”.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (2.35:1). English and French Language Track. French and Spanish Subtitles.
