Step Up (2006)

People are voting emotionally.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

What we have here, is a cliché-ridden school of the arts flick. I am moved to write this review while it is only halfway through. Perhaps I'll change my opinion by the time it ends. A story about a street smart, sort of, break dancer (Channing Tatum), a budding ballet student(Jenna Dewan Tatum), and assorted family and plot-filling friends. The boy happens to be sentenced to janitorial community service at the school after having broken in and vandalized the building with his buddies. The dancer suddenly is in need of a practice partner and (guess what?) our janitor just happens to take on the job. The plot is annoyingly formulaic. Dancer and dude fall in love. Mother disapproves. For tears, there is a random death that goes nowhere in the story line. Well, the two protagonists wind up together forever in the film and in real life, as they actually met and fell in love on the set which is, perhaps, the most interesting part of this tale. OK, it's over and I haven't changed my mind. Watching it was a waste of time. Now, what is the worst thing about this dance production? Unlike, "Fame," "Saturday Night Fever," "Flash Dance," etc., nobody in the film can actually dance!

Okay, so now I get what all the fuss is over Channing Tatum. Holy yum! He is perfect for this role, in a predictable, fairly dumb, yet also utterly addictive movie.Channing plays Tyler Gage, a troublemaker and street dancer living with his foster parents, who after vandalizing an elite performing arts school gets the opportunity of a lifetime in the form of community service (janitorial duties) at the school. He then gets "discovered" dancing in the parking lot by ballet dancer Nora Clark who just happens to need a new partner and some fresh choreography. In turn this could gain Tyler the chance to earn a scholarship.The story here isn't super original but the dance sequences (and music) is really good, and watching Channing move in those loose fitting jeans is all kinds of good. The romance and side stories also sucked me right in. Ultimately I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. 03.13

Step up 1 is a romantic comedy about the meeting of classical and street dance. When Tayler, street dancer and troublemaker, is arrested and sentenced to community service, he doesn't know it's actually a once in a life time opportunity. Indeed, he will meet the ballet dancer Norah, a student of the school and become her dance Partner.I had read a lot of negative reviews about this movie, and I can confirm some of the bad comments. It is true that the story is a little girlish, and you mustn't expect a huge brain activity while watching it ! Tayler gives his help to Nora, then take it back and give it again... You can find out the end since the beginning ! But on the other hand, if your goal for the night is to stay on your couch with some (girl) friends and enjoy a sweet comedy together, Step Up is for you ! If you are easy to please, you might even forget that you've already guess the end, and hope, cry and laugh with the characters.Moreover, you will certainly enjoy the dance scenes, which are more and more delightful throughout the film, and as you reach the end, the last scene is a real gift to the eyes and ears.In conclusion, I'd recommend it if you had a rough day and want to go to sleep with a cute smile on your face !

Although I'm way, way past a teenager, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The dancing is great and really attention grabbing. If I see it on the schedule, I try to catch, at least, the finale which is, to me, fantastically choreographed. The acting may not be Oscar worthy but I don't have anything bad to say about it except for Rachel Griffiths. She seemed to be holding way back and was very, very flat. I find that strange because I really enjoy her on Brothers & Sisters.It was nice to see a a location of Baltimore - not NY or LA. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie that I just happened to come upon one weekend on cable. Not too sappy or too violent or unbelievable. If you like to watch dancing, you'll like this movie. If you are open to all kinds of music, I think you'll like it.The social statement to me is that with hard work and the luck of an opportunity to participate in the arts can drastically change a young life. There is so much talent out on the streets and, with funding being cut more and more, the talents of the young are being wasted and everybody suffers.