Step Up to this one only if you have a passion for dance. The rest would do well to busy themselves watching the variety of reality dance shows on TV instead!
Step Up (3D)
Cast: Rick Malambri, Adam Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson Stoner, Keith "Remedy" Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Joe Slaughter, Jason Etter, Keith Stallworth
Director: Jon M Chu
Rating: **
The third in the US street dance series, this one has a 3D boost yet except for the dance performances, valiant effects and passable choreography this film has very little to offer.
Channing Tatum, the glue that attracted the pre-teen and teen audience to the earlier two issues is no longer a part of the franchise. For this 3D attempt, there’s Rick Malambri as the multi-tasker Luke - mentor, trainer and aspiring filmmaker, another potential teen heartthrob but his acting talents are well short of special. As is pretty usual for such films, there is not much of a story to pull all the dance performances through.
Luke collects talented street dancers of diverse ethnicities, they are called ‘Pirates’, dwell in a Brooklyn warehouse loft. Moose (Adam G Sevani) from Step Up 2: The Streets and Camille from Step Up are inseparable friends. Moose captures Luke's attention as he dances like a pro.
Clubber Natalie (Sharni Wilson) is another of Luke’s proteges.
The teams are now set-up for a flurry of dance sequences which follow one after the other. The dances are energetic and the performers have a grace, rhythm and elegance that is eye-catching enough to set your pulses racing. Unfortunately there is not much development happening in the story department. Chu fails to make a decent meal of his narrative but his sense for dance theatrics cannot be faulted. He has used the 3D imagery to good effect. But the acting is pretty lacklustre.
The soundtrack consists mainly of hip-hop tunes and a few other take-off’s of the 60’s and 70’s musicals. A number set to the remix of Fred Astaire’s ‘I Won’t Dance,’ blaring from loud speaker affixed on an ice-cream truck is the most memorable bit of dance and music in the film. The rest is only just passable.
Step Up to this one only if you have a passion for dance. The rest would do well to busy themselves watching the variety of reality dance shows on TV instead!
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