"Do I Look Like I Own Tights?" --- Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum)

Rating: 7/10 (10 March 2007)

"Step Up" (2006)
Directed By: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Mario, Damaine Radcliff, Drew Sidora, Rachel Griffiths, De'Shawn Washington, & Josh Henderson
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (for thematic elements, brief violence and innuendo)
Dance movies have been running rampant in Hollywood latelyand most of them have been horrible. Critics almost always pan them and, despite the usual strong audience turnout, many audience members leave feeling disappointed. One of the very few dance movies that revolutionized the genre was "Take the Lead" and, despite still not winning many critics' hearts, it connected with audiences. It grasped a much deeper of the understanding genre than its shallow cousins and sported top-notch performances with impeccable dance sequences. "Step Up" is more of a romantic drama than a dance movie, though I suppose dance is a huge part of the movie thus sealing it into its genre. It falls for most of the clichés and stereotypes to which other teen romances succumb, but its lively and energetic dance moves coupled with electric chemistry between the two leads and solid supporting performances make "Step Up" a step above the norm.
You've heard this plot beforeor, at least, something very similar. "Step Up" tells the story of two teens, both from two very different worlds, who meet and fall in love. The first is Tyler Gage (Tatum). He is the "bad boy with a heart" who is, ultimately, just misunderstood. The other is Nora Clark (Dewan), a wealthy dance student preparing for her senior showcase. When Tyler and two of his friends wreck the stage at a prestigious art school and Tyler is caught, he is forced to do community service. His service: he must work as a janitor at the school. He happens upon Nora whose partner has just been injured. She needs someone to take his place if she wants to get a position at a dance company after graduation. The two meet, sparks fly, the status quo is thrown off balance, and the two prepare for the ultimate dance routine. Does this sound familiar? Delete the dancing and you have countless other romantic dramas. But, that is the key to improving a clichéd plot: adding something new (i.e. the dance aspect).
"Step Up" actually has good performances. Channing Tatum is a good actor but, I'll be perfectly honest, his performance here is mixedhowever the guy has shown his talent with other projects (namely "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints", in which he gave a caustic, gritty performance). This just isn't his best work, but don't give me wrong. His performance serves its purpose. Jenna Dewan, on the other hand, aces her role. She worked very well. Not surprisingly, the two leads work best when they are together. They have amazing chemistry and their dance sequences are spectacular. For his first role in a major motion picture, Mario does fine. There isn't much substance with his character, but he handles it relatively well. Drew Sidora starred in "White Chicks"but I can forgive and forget. Can you? If so, then you will probably see that she does manage to give a nice performance here. My only question is: can she really sing that well? She sounded awesome.
When "Step Up" ended, I realized that, despite all of the clichés, I had had a blast. The movie is, if nothing else, an entertaining film. It is anything but flawless, however. It is cliché-ridden and there really isn't enough dancing. With such amazing choreography, more dance sequences would have been greatly appreciated. I was also a little disappointed with how Nora's first boyfriend, Brett (Henderson), was handled. Instead of making him seem like a realistic character that would have provided more conflict for Nora, they merely took the easy route and made him into a complete jerkthe same was true with Lucy's (Sidora) first boyfriend. But, like I said, I had funas did the audience with which I watched it. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and, ultimately, that is the reason why movies exist. If movies fail to entertain, then really what is the point? "Step Up" may not be the most original film to date, but it is too much fun to ignore.
Final Thought: "Step Up" is pure entertainment, nothing more or less.
Overall Rating: 7/10 (B+)