Decent and Expected

Rating: 6/10 (18 August 2006)

This movie is not a terrible movie, quite a contrary statement to many reviews bestowed upon the film. The movie's premise is simple enough: a young man has been charged with a misdemeanor and must complete 200 hours community service at the scene of the crime.
The scene, which sets the setting for most of the film, is the Maryland School of Arts, a prestigious school in which only the most gifted students may attend. It is during the community service that our protagonist, Tyler Gage (Tatum), meets the obligatory cute dance student, Nora Clark (Dewan), who is from a different world entirely.
The film has many honest, touching moments. The first meeting, the flirts, the dancing scenes in the clubs and the studio. The Director of Photography did a great job of showing the immense contrast of the two worlds, and the striking similarity of the inhabitants. The plot advances rather well, with it's conflict along the way. The score was excellently chosen, and used very well in the many dancing and emotional scenes.
The film is not without its gross negatives however. Acting is the first problem. Both Tatum and Dewan, while giving decent performances, have almost zero chemistry on screen, and this is noticeable throughout the film. The two leads' friends are a little stronger on the acting side, with Damaine Radcliff (Mac) possibly being the strongest. There were many moments that were mere plastic and filler, moments where any simpleton can tell the actors are bored, or frustrated, with the inept writing they've been given. The script, half the time, seems like a re-written "Save The Last Dance", which on that note brings me to my last complaint: many, many shots in this movie almost seem to photocopy other teen-angst dramas. The basketball court, the housing, the attitude, all is not unlike the mentioned dance movie.
The ending is predictable, as is most of the movie, but not so much that it's disappointing or frustrating. It deserves a giggle and a little pat on the back for recognizing trends, but nothing more.
The film is presented as a "defining film of this generation". A little much for weak acting and scripts, but this film will suffice for a dry week at the video store. It's decent in every way, and expected in every way, being the movie we all know it's going to be.