Movie Review - 'Step Up 2 The Streets'

Step Up 2 the Streets

Starring Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, and Adam G. Sevani
Directed by Jon Chu
Rated PG-13

Even when the cumulative effect of one of the half-dozen or so recent group dancing movies is not positive, there has been the impression that you’re being shown something exciting, different, or even new. The stories surrounding the dance scenes are nearly always awful, but the directors have at the bare minimum paid attention to the choreography.

The movies in question range from the completely asinine (You Got Served) to the well-meaning (How She Move) with highs (Stomp the Yard) and lows (Step Up) in between. But even as bad as the genre is, time always seems to stand still while a young dancer performs something that looks more at home in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or The Matrix.

Step Up 2 the Streets is somehow less than a sequel. It’s a regression, lacking a single moment that piques your interest or catches you off guard. It’s not a real stretch to say that if you’ve seen two of these dance competition movies you’ve seen them all. In fact, you could just watch Saturday Night Fever and change the soundtrack and all the other pieces will more or less fall the same way.

But at least in Stomp the Yard, Columbus Short shows some charisma and the dancing scenes are eye popping. At least in How She Move there’s an effort made to be dramatic when the music stops. Step Up 2 the Streets is more like a public access production of Fame than any of its direct ancestors.

If you’re a stickler for redeeming qualities, the female lead is Briana Evigan, and her father is former prime time star Greg Evigan. That’s right: The highlight of Step Up 2 the Streets is that for a fleeting moment you’ll think about B.J. and the Bear. That should tell you all you need to know.