Step Up Revolution

I am shedding my weird, creepy hoody that I hide out with and telling everyone that I am a fan of the Step Up franchise. Yes I'm a little embarrassed and honestly I'm not saying the movies are good but as far as guilty pleasures go they are absolutely divine. With the exception of the first installment which although starred a young sexy Channing Tatum in his first lead role took it self way too seriously to be entertaining. And thats a huge reason why these films work because from it's superior sequel, best of the franchise and one of the best dance movies ever made Step Up 2 The Streets the movies have found this odd balance off fiery kinetic dancing, likable personalities, overly melodramatic and unintentionally funny performances, ferocious cinematography and hammy storytelling that just works. You laugh, you clap and sometimes you tear up at the clichéd and expected finale. This entry fares better than the last which was still pretty damn good. It centers on "The Mob" a dance group of struggling artists looking to make their mark on pop culture by staging creative dance mobs so that they can get 10,000,000 views on you tube and get a hefty $100,000 prize. (which split between the 50 person team isn't very much but I'll let it pass). Anyways he comes in contact with another struggling young dancer whose well not very struggling since her Daddy is a billionaire whose looking to tear down the middle/poor class neighborhood they live in and make it into a huge resort. Enter the film's interestingly semi fleshed out plot as they decide to change their flash mobs from breezy dance numbers to ones with meaning as they protest "The Man" so to speak. Of course their is some third act drama to cause a downward spiral before wrapping it up in the films inspired finale which was in fact inspired by the classic film The Warriors. The dancing is amazing and for the first time in the series they incorporate different styles of dance such as contemporary and modern to successfully winning measures. Kathryn McCormick of So you think you can dance has some crazy sizzle in the lead when it comes to her dancing but her acting is well questionable in the essence of I'm not actually sure that's what she's doing. Slightly more successful and way hotter is MMA fighter Ryan Guzman as the film's thankfully mostly shirtless leading man. He's got the body of a Greek god and the talent when it comes to dancing but hey let's just leave the acting out of this equation. You know there's a problem when the film's best performance dramatically is from Peter Gallagher as her over bearing, greedy Father. And watching the two of them together trying to force some type of connection is akin to watching erasers on a desk facing each other. That being said they are hot and very talented when dancing. And when they are it's fire. And thats basically the film as with the other installments when they try for the drama it's unintentionally funny and it works in a so bad it's good way but when they perform you see the kinetic, addictive energy that makes these films so endearing. 4/5

From Biscayne Bay to Watson Island, Miami is the star of the latest installment in the Step Up series. Lets hear it for the Production Designer and the Art Department. They really worked lots of technology and high style into this segment and I for one think the look is terrific!

the producers really scored landing Peter Gallagher as the Real Estate Developer Mr Anderson since the leads are relative unknowns. They say the first timers cut is the cheapest but we all know that delays add to the bottom line but lucky for Scott Speer the dancing and the sizzling hot locations save the show and make for one amazing ride into Miami. Music? check; Dancing? check, Ocean? check, Real life story? double check... so get ready to ENJOY your trip to Miami, it's worth the price of admission.

When Step Up was released in 2006 with a pre-fame Channing Tatum, there was little need for a plot or character development but they included it anyway – and the movie, along with the hip-hop/ballet moves, was actually really good. Six years and three sequels later, that effort has slowly diminished; at this point in the franchise it's 100% about the dancing and nothing else. Subsequently Miami Heat is essentially the cinematic version of 'So You Think You Can Dance', albeit without the talentless gits that hog the early episodes for comedic value. The high-concept toe-tapping sequences come thick and fast and mercifully keep the acting and dialogue to a minimum, however the sheer implausibility of the set pieces – called "protest art" or some crap – grinds over time. Fans of the series can kick back and enjoy, all others should give it a miss.

Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer and soon falls in love with Sean, a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called "The Mob." When a wealthy business man threatens to develop The Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people, Emily must band together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause. -- (C) Summit

As I was waiting in line to see this film, a boy (about 7) was with his mother. He explained to her about all the dancers that were in the previous STEP UP films and seemed to have an extensive and in-depth knowledge about these dancers that I could never compete with. I suppose that these films are geared toward people like the boy I overheard, those who surround themselves in an art form with many styles. I don't watch shows like SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, but there is something endearing about the STEP UP films (excluding the first) that separate themselves from other dance flicks. First and foremost, they don't take themselves seriously. Their predictable story lines are an excuse to showcase some mad dance moves that you'll never get to see in life. These films know that they aren't high art, so comparing them to something like THE GODFATHER is entirely missing the point.

However, like everything else, the STEP UP franchise will eventually lose its luster. This is the case with REVOLUTION, as with most franchises that suffer from sequelitis. REVOLUTION is entertaining for what it's worth, but it isn't as exciting to watch as the previous two entries. The film lacks the charm of its two predecessors, mostly due to the lack of the lovable Moose, who only appears in a short cameo. Regardless, the dancing sequences are top notch and filled with wonder and creativity. There's also an added twist concerning protest art which was interesting. One sequence, in particular, is sure to wow the audience, taking place in an art museum where the art literally comes to life. There's also the obligatory 10+ minute dance in the climax that is just as good. However, I must note that another "dance" sequence will likely disturb people, particularly because of the recent movie theater shooting in Colorado. It involves smoke grenades, people being covered in gas masks and armor, and gun shot sound effects. In and of itself, the scene is supposed to be alarming, but the added tragedy just makes it ill-timed.

Like STEP UP 3, the film takes full advantage of its 3D technology, from the opening scene to the end credits. There's a lot of gimmicky "pop out" moments but scenes with amazing depth as well. These films prove to be some of very few films that know how to use 3D well and makes one wonder if other filmmakers should have to learn from these guys. The story is also interesting as the film tackles on the current issue of the Occupy movement (done with flashmobs). Lastly, the actors can surely dance, but their performances are merely sufficient.

If you like the STEP UP films, there's no reason you won't enjoy this one. The dance sequences and 3D are great, but it's forgettable once the credits roll. Additionally, I hope the filmmakers stop the franchise at this one because it's starting to get stale and repetitive. On another note, I would like to indicate that director Scott Speer directed some episodes from the web series THE LEGION OF EXTRAORDINARY DANCERS (LXD), created by Jon Chu, which I highly recommend to watch as it provides a great alternative to your usual dance flicks (think THE AVENGERS but with dancing). It's not as bad as it sounds. Trust me.

When I stepped into the theater to see Step Up Revolution, I expected cutting-edge dance. I got it and maybe better than I expected with robust routines blending 3-D performance and modern art to tell a story that moves from public display to public mission.

"The Mob" is a flash mob secretly doing percussive urban choreography at different times in Miami to publish the dance on YouTube and win $100K for the most hits. The opening sequence using vintage low-riders in a traffic jam is spectacular, a muscular routine using very physical dance and very physical automobiles for an enjoyable fusion of art and pop culture.

Look, this is not Flashdance or Dirty Dancing, and Emily (Kathryn McCormick) is not Jennifer Beals, nor is Sean (Ryan Guzman) Patrick Swayze (or Channing Tatum from the first installment), but they are attractive performers given simple dialogue but dynamic modern film dancing that uses creative camera angles and minimal CGI to tell a pleasant formulaic story. In other words, I was entertained by the dancing and found the screenplay clichéd.

Emily's dad, Mr. Anderson (Peter Gallagher, the only true actor in the lot), plans to build a giant complex right in the hood of the dancers, a place romanticized for the purposes of the story but in reality a poor wharf community. The Mob, along with Emily, fights to preserve the area using flash mob to tell their story to the city to stop the construction. The set pieces are uniformly exciting and executed with such energy as to evoke the passions of youth and protest.

The story and the dialogue are pedestrian, but that dancing is so magnetic that I might go back and see the first three films in the series and maybe Footloose and maybe even West Side story and Strictly Ballroom.

If for nothing else, Step Up Revolution keeps alive the romantic dance movie genre with some steps even Fred Astaire wouldn't recognize. Now that's revolution.