STEP UP 2: THE STREETS
Director: Jon M Chu Stars: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp, Adam G Sevani, Cassie Ventura, Danielle Polanco, Black Thomas, Channing Tatum
Reviewed by GREG KING
A thoroughly unnecessary sequel, the only real links between this film and the original Step Up are the setting (again, the Maryland Academy of the Arts) and a brief appearance from original star Channing Tatum to help set up the storyline.
The focus of this film is Andie (played by Briana Evigan, daughter of former 70’s tv star Greg Evigan), a troubled and rebellious teen who hangs out with the notorious 410 crew on the streets of the city. When her guardian tires of her always skirting with trouble through her association with this gang she threatens to send her to live with her aunt in Texas. Enter Tyler (Tatum), who convinces her to audition for the Maryland Academy. Andie’s dynamic street oriented style though grates on the Academy’s new director Blake Collins (Will Kemp), a classically trained dancer. However, his brother Chase (Robert Hoffman) convinces Blake to accept her as a personal challenge to see if he can discipline her and turn her into a great conventional dancer.
But Andie’s presence at the Academy stirs up trouble with her former friends, who also ostracise her socially. Before long Andie has created her own “crew” from within the Academy, a group of misunderstood misfits who find acceptance through dance. They mount a challenge to compete on the streets in an illegal free form dance competition and face off against her old crew.
Step Up 2 is another very cliched example of the dance movie aimed at teens, and it borrows heavily from others of this ilk, including Step Up, Stomp The Yard and You Got Served, without adding anything new. And once again the clumsy routines we see the various crews rehearsing bear little resemblance to the spectacular moves they pull off for the climactic dance off.
Anne Fletcher, the director and choreographer of the original Step Up remains behind the scenes for this sequel, credited as one of the string of producers. She has handed over the reins to relative newcomer Jon M Chu, a director of a couple of acclaimed shorts, making his feature film debut here. Chu is not so great with handling actors or the key emotional scenes, but he undeniably brings plenty of energy to the dance sequences. The largely unknown cast throw themselves into their stereotypical roles, but it is their dance doubles who perform with the most energy and enthusiasm, and these dance sequences will certainly please the target audience.
However, Step Up 2: The Streets is another example of Hollywood continuing to dumb down and produce films deliberately aimed at a certain demographic that care little for the mechanics of great writing, credible characters, narrative structure and skilful direction. A very generous two stars from me!
**