Step Up All In (2014)

Genre

Dance | Drama | Romance

Director

Trish Sie

Country

USA

Cast

Ryan Guzman, Adam G. Sevani, Briana Evigan, Misha Gabriel, Alyson Stoner, Izabella Miko, Mari Koda, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard, Christopher Scott, Stephen Boss, Luis Rosado, Chadd Smith, Parris Goebel, Stephen Jones, David Shreibman, Celestina Aladekoba

Storyline

After assembling a new crew, Sean (Ryan Guzman) joins a dance competition in Las Vegas and will battle for a victory that could define his dreams and career, as well as those of his new friends.

Opinion

The Step Up franchise is not known for its brilliant plots or characters, but for the dancing, which until now has been overall good. Then they made the fifth installment, this film, which is easily the worst film of the series.

Just like the previous entry, "Step Up All In" suffers with a mediocre story. Once again (not so) young people wanting to make money doing what they love most, dancing. But the storyline is so thin, it's basically just an excuse to make another film that is some sort of a reunion with the most known characters of the franchise. And just like always, a clichéd romance is thrown into the mix as well as some dramas and childish behaviors.

But what's the point in complaining about that? That's how the whole franchise is made, you get a dance scene, a glimpse of a plot, another dance scene, and so on.

But at least the other films had nice choreographies. Unfortunately "Step Up All In" takes a huge step back and brings the worst dance sequences of the franchise. The choreographies indeed aren't spectacular. Rather they are dull because they are made of the same steps and movements.

The acting also helps to sink the film. I am not sure if it's more laughable than atrocious or the other way around, but it's definitely horrible. Not to mention the non-existing chemistry.

Adam Sevani's Moose is the only breath of fresh air, which isn't that fresh anymore since he has been overused so much in the franchise. His steps are still good though.

Step Up Revolution (2012)

Genre

Dance | Drama | Romance

Director

Scott Speer

Country

USA

Cast

Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher, Stephen Boss, Tommy Dewey, Cleopatra Coleman, Megan Boone, Sean Rahill, Seyfo, Adam Sevani

Storyline

Emily (Kathryn McCormick), the daughter of a rich hotel owner (Peter Gallagher), befriends Sean (Ryan Guzman) and joins The Mob, a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's plans. 

Opinion

After the awful "Step Up 3D" here it is the fourth installment of this money-making franchise, and it's pretty much just another clichéd dance film.

The first problem with "Step Up Revolution" is the story. Don't let you fool by the title, there's no revolution here, it's just an ordinary dance film plot featuring a romance (and characters) that seems to scream "I want to be a remake of Dirty Dancing, not another pointless Step Up sequel". Actually, imagine "Dirty Dancing" only this time Baby and Johnny, I meant Emily and Sean, dance to save their neighbor. Crazy, right?

Other than that, the film has a lot more to offer, like new characters most of which, especially the main ones, are shallow and unbelievable. But that's great because it goes hand in hand with the dreadful dialogue that leave much to be desired.

Another weakness of the film is the acting. While they deliver the dancing quite well, the cast doesn't deliver anything in terms of acting. From facial expressions to vocals, they all are equally atrocious, even Peter Gallagher and especially Kathryn McCormick.

But like I've said in the past, it's a dance film so dance it's the most important element. And I'm happy to say that the film really redeems itself on that front. Some of the choreographies are intense and fun to watch and they fit the music which, by the way, is my favourite of the franchise.

And Moose shows up at the end, but I guess that happened only because the audience likes him.

Step Up 3D (2010)

Genre

Drama | Dance | Romance

Director

Jon M. Chu

Country

USA

Cast

Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson Stoner, Kathy Najimy, Joe Slaughter, Keith Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Stephen Boss, Jonathan Perez, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard, Oren Michaeli, Chadd Smith, Daniel Campos, Shirley Henriquez, Alberto Collado Aracena

Storyline

A tight-knit group of New York City street dancers find themselves pitted against the world's best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown.

Opinion

I remember this film making a pretty big deal about being in 3D when it came out. Frankly, I don't even get the point of making a 3D dance film. Maybe, since "Step Up 3D" is a really bad film, the purpose was to make it look nicer, but I wouldn't know because I've seen it twice in 2D. And my opinion hasn't changed, it only got worse.

The plot wasn't either the previous installments' strong suit, but at least the final products were quite pleasant. But this is a whole different story. The non-existent plot is filled with clichés of the genre, gigantic plot holes and as if that wasn't enough it doesn't make a lot of sense and most important it manages to be boring.

I know what you are thinking, how can a dance film be boring, right? Ask the filmmakers, that apparently they were so caught up in the idea of making the first 3D dance film that they didn't even think about writing. In fact, other than the dreadful story, the script also features so horrible that is painful to hear dialogue - it can pretty much be summarized with "We have to win" and "We still can do it" - and characters there are the least interesting of the franchise. And not only.

And now the dancing. When it comes to a film like this one, there's nothing worse than average choreographies, and that's exactly what the film provides from start to finish. I usually feel excited when watching those scenes, but here I felt nothing. Besides boredom, of course.

In this hell, one character and actor steps out from the crowd, that being Adam G. Sevani in the role of Moose. I've already mentioned how much I like the character in "Step Up 2: The Streets", and in this film he is pretty much the only good thing. And he does start with a good opening dance scene.

Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)

Genre

Drama | Music | Romance

Director

Jon M. Chu

Country

USA

Cast

Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam Sevani, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura, Danielle Polanco, Christopher Scott, Luis Rosado, Harry Shum Jr., LaJon Dantzler, Janelle Cambridge, Mari Koda, Sonja Sohn, Black Thomas, Telisha Shaw, Channing Tatum

Storyline

When her guardian threatens to send her to live in Texas, Andie (Briana Evigan) enrolls in the Maryland School of the Arts where she attempts to learn the traditional technique of dance while encouraging the school misfits to embrace their own unusual dance skills and styles.

Opinion

I don't know what it is about this film, but I've always been drawn by it, more than any other dance film. Which is weird considering how clichéd and how poor the writing is. But you know what else "Step Up 2: The Streets" is? An entertaining dance flick with breathtaking dance moves.

Just like I mentioned, the script is a mess. If the story to "Step Up" wasn't original, this one's story is beyond unoriginal as it basically is a copy of the previous entry, only have the poor girl and the rich guy instead of the other way around. The plot is also very predictable and features the typical people-from-different-worlds romance.

Also, the characters aren't anything special, but I have to say they are quite lovable. And I love the fact that this film introduces the character of Moose, which is arguably the cooler and my favourite character of the franchise. Anyway, the characters aren't even fed with good dialogue, and the poor acting doesn't really help, no matter how good the chemistry between the two leads, Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman, is, how much Hoffman is charming or how much fun the cast is having.

But now let's focus on the important things of movies of this genre, the dancing. The dance scenes alone make the film worth the time. The choreographies are amazing, and having such good dancers really did the trick. That dance battle in the rain at the end of the film? I'll never forget that. I can't even imagine how hard that sequence was to shoot.

Step Up (2006)

Genre

Drama | Music | Romance

Director

Anne Fletcher

Country

USA

Cast

Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Damaine Radcliff, De'Shawn, Mario, Drew Sidora, Rachel Griffiths, Josh Henderson, Tim Lacatena, Alyson Stoner, Heavy D, Babbal Kumar, Deirdre Lovejoy, Jamie Scott, Adriana Gutierrez

Storyline

After vandalizing a performing arts school, Tyler (Channing Tatum) gains the chance to earn a scholarship and dance with an up and coming dancer, Nora (Jenna Dewan).

Opinion

The film industry often returns with a new dancing film, and it's probably because it allows them to do a little of musical without doing an actual musical. And if I have to be honest, even though I don't like dancing (mainly because I'm a piece of wood), I like those movies, and despite all, Anne Fletcher did a pretty good job with this first "Step Up" movie, which is sure clichéd and predictable, but also entertaining.

The story isn't much original, it's just the typical feel-good story with two people coming from two different worlds that eventually fall in love and that ends in an upbeat dance finale. And there also are a lot of other familiar situations, the plot is basically paper thin, and there are no twists whatsoever.

But since I highly doubt people watch a dance film for the plot, there's something else that should be considered, the choreographies of dance. And that's when you can see the great work Anne Fletcher has done. The dance routines she had pulled off are beautiful, and passionate and really capable of carrying you into another world.

And then there is the music, and I have to say that the songs picked are both awesome and fit well the film.

Then of course there's the beautiful chemistry between the leading duo, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, who eventually got married in real life. They also do an incredible job dancing, and it's very beautiful to watch them perform.