Movie Review - 'How She Move'

How She Move

Rutina Wesley, Dwain Murphy, and Tracey Armstrong
Directed by Ian Rashid
Rated PG-13

I don't know how many times we have to see a movie with the same setup: Smart student with all the opportunities in the world puts him or herself in a position to lose instead of win, and only through (insert your America's Got Talent category here) can he or she really unlock his or her full potential. Oh, and his or her parent or guardian will always show up to scold him or her for not focusing on schoolwork, only to be wowed by (performance) in the end.

We've seen it in Drumline, Stomp the Yard, Center Stage, even Saturday Night Fever with a few modifications. It's done. It's tired. We've been fed this dish dozens of times.

How She Move is really no different. The performances - step dancing - are less enthusiastic than in last year's Stomp the Yard, but whereas that film featured a strong breakthrough by Columbus Short, How She Move introduces us to Rutina Wesley, who dominates the screen in a movie where you wouldn't expect that to happen.

There are a few moments of clarity in How She Move, as Wesley does her dead level best to save this. She battles Tre Armstrong head-to-head, and both young women have a raw energy that director Ian Iqbal Rashid really taps into. Armstrong comes from a dancing background while Wesley is a Julliard graduate who appeared in the Sam Mendes-directed Broadway production of The Vertical Hour with Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy, so it goes without saying that she can handle this material.

I only wish the film had challenged its young star more. Physically, without question, Wesley underwent some grueling hours. Step dancing doesn't even look easy. That's another feather in her cap, though, because she even pulls that off convincingly.

If you can wade through the rusty mechanics of the story, there's a very good performance here worth watching. But I know I'm asking a lot from you.