Step Up 3D
What a fun way to bring summer to an end with this campy flick! Just watching the trailer had me all antsy in my pantsy excited for the third movie in the Step Up franchise. Quotes like, “people dance because dance can change things. One move, can bring people together. One move, can make you believe like there’s something more. One move, can set a whole generation free” made it impossible for me to resist seeing STEP UP 3D on opening night. Having a love for dance movies that is considered unhealthy by some and inspiring by others, I knew that this movie would be an upbeat flick full of dance moves that I will never be able to reproduce but would try to do so in the parking lot after the movie was over along with some of my fellow movie goers.
In STEP UP 3D, we reunite with fan favorite from STEP UP 2: THE STREETS, Moose (Adam G. Sevani) and Camille (Alyson Stoner), Tyler Gage’s foster sister in STEP UP, as best friends and NYU freshmen. Moose has given up dance for an engineering degree, but not for long. On their first day on campus he gets pushed into a dance battle where his victory lands him a bit of trouble with leading dance crew House of Samurai and into the warm embrace of The Pirates, Samurai’s arch rival. As The Pirates leader, Luke (Rick Malambri – who, by the way, looks like a slimmer version of Eric Dane – meow!) invites Moose to join their crew in the biggest battle yet, The World Jam. Winning The World Jam will give The Pirates the money they need to save their dance club and house both being threatened by the bank. We also meet Natalie (Sharni Vinson) who not only has caught Luke’s eye and is an amazing dancer, but also looks just like Andie from STEP UP 2: THE STREETS but with Nora’s hair from STEP UP. Not sure why that detail is important to share but I found myself focused on that most every time she was on screen.
This STEP UP film had more focus on dance than character development or story line but with all the amazing dancing you tend to forgive it those details. Other than the relationship between Moose and Camille, I had a hard time rooting for the characters no matter how hard I wanted to become invested in the relationship between Luke and Natalie or find the friendship between Luke and Moose as believable. Despite the lack of connection between the characters the supporting cast did a great job and I was excited each time I saw them working it. And, when the quote above is said in the film, it did not come across as cheesy as it sounded on the trailer.
The dance sequences were frequent and in your face (3D style as the title promises) and you better enjoy hip hop because it is incorporated throughout the entire movie. I loved how many dance moments there were, found it refreshing that there were no line or group dances that everyone just happened to know. The 3D portion of the film was a great way to feel like you were a part of the dance crew or a fan in the crowd at the dance battles. The best part of the 3D is when the credits roll – I think this is the first time I’ve been in a theatre when the entire crowd stayed to watch the ending credits all the way through. Overall STEP UP 3D is easy and entertaining.
[fbcomments]