Step Up (2006)

Directed by: Anne Fletcher | 103 minutes | drama, music, romance | Actors: Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Mario, Drew Sidora, Rachel Griffiths, Eddy Challita, Thomas Joe Craig, Devraj Dasgupta, Tony Devon, Pamela Fischer, Nick Foley, Erica Harris, Heavy D, Josh Henderson, DeLon Howell, Courtney Irons, Melvin Jackson Jr., Tim Lacatena, Lana’i, Chris K. Layman, Spencer Longmore, Deirdre Lovejoy, Larry A. Lynn, Millyon James, P. Morrow, Christopher H. Myers, Amber Nelson, David Oliver, Mina Pahle van Carlyncia , S. Peck, Erick Peterson, Reina Poindexter, Damaine Radcliff, Daniel Ross, Jennifer Rouse, Toni Russell, Ryan Sands, Natasha Sattler, Tina Segovia, Al Sotto, Thomas W. Stewart, Alyson Stoner, Anastasia Summers, Jeanetta Taylor, Michael Uriarte, Schuster Vance, De’Shawn Washington, Linda E. Williams, Samantha Zweben, Joanna Becker, Jeremy Bustin, Matt Hartman, Priscilla Hopkins, Julie Mabry, Christina Pitrelli, Noah Schaftel, Deborah S. Smith, Peter Stone, JB Tadena, Jayson Vance

Looked at closely, there is little to discover in ‘Step Up’ that works. The script is very predictable and at times unbelievable, the characters hardly get any attention, the acting is mediocre, and even the editing during the dance scenes sometimes leaves something to be desired. However, ‘Step Up’ is still a relatively deserving summer fare. It is just a film that is easy to watch and (young) people who feel attracted to this kind of light-hearted and “poppy” material with beautiful protagonists and a nice soundtrack, could still enjoy themselves with this formula film.

The compelling hip hop soundtrack, which features featured artists such as Ciara, Sean Paul, and Kelis, is arguably the best part of the film. This ensures that you automatically dance and bounce from scene to scene, so that you have less trouble with the triviality or absurdity of the scenes.

Writer Duane Adler was chosen for the script, among others, who previously worked on the similar ‘Save the Last Dance’, with Julia Stiles in the lead role. ‘Step Up’ differs from that film in that the entire dance concept is now incorporated into the film more organically and logically. After all, how necessary was it in ‘Save the Last Dance’ that Julia Stiles suddenly got lessons in hip hop from Sean Patrick Thomas? Sure, Stiles had to learn the dance that first night, but it’s a bit strange to start offering her classes right away, which also had the walking rhythm in the program, and the way you sit on a chair. In other words, she had to be able to adapt exactly to her environment. This is quite a different approach than ‘Step Up’, or a film like ‘Dirty Dancing’, in which the dance lessons are purely intended as practice for an important competition. However, the way Tyler (Channing Tatum) is confronted with these lessons is as constructed and predictable as possible. He has to clean the room where Nora (Jenna Dewan) practices and suddenly her regular partner sprains his ankle. “What now?” she thinks aloud, as the audience sees Tyler mopping in the background of the shot. Surprise: Tyler is going to replace the crippled dancer! But, not before Dewan has seen him perform an impressive, improvised (street) dance routine in front of his mates in front of the school, nor before she has a group of ridiculously incompetent students do an “audition”.

But, said and done, Tyler takes the place of Nora’s fallen dance partner, which makes for some amusing scenes, with Tyler having to master the ballet exercises, and Nora getting some adjustments on moves that Tyler seems “boring”. and finds it “stiff”. These dance scenes are beautifully choreographed, which you can leave to Anne Fletcher, who has already had a solid career as a choreographer. It also helps that Jenna Dewan has been dancing since she was five, was in many music videos, and (as a dancer) has toured with stars like P Diddy and Janet Jackon. Channing Tatum was also a gold find in this regard, as he was already a natural (street) dancer when he came to audition. Ideal persons, therefore, to shine on a stage. The fact that they also look sexy and tough while doing this is a bonus. It’s a pity that the editing seems a bit bland and that the beautiful movements on the screen are not always able to translate visually in an equally exciting way. The last performance, for example, could have been a thrilling sensation, but now it lacks any dynamism, no matter how well the dancers try. ‘Save the Last Dance’ did this a lot better. What also came into its own in that film was character development. In fact, that film was mainly built around the (relational) problems of the characters, while the dance scenes turned out to be almost an afterthought. It was more of a ‘Jungle Fever’ light, with the main characters dancing now and then. This nevertheless gives the film an added value compared to ‘Step Up’, which works more efficiently with regard to the dance idea, but offers little context or clear observations with regard to the main characters. For example, Tyler has to give the impression that he is trapped in his poor ghetto life and would love to get out of it, but this wish only becomes (well) clear towards the end of the film. Nora’s dream to complete her audition has not always been fulfilled satisfactorily. That is, the obstacles she encounters at home seem somewhat artificial. Her mother is indifferent to her daughter’s ambitions for almost the entire film, while at the end she suddenly remembers how much she always liked to see Nora dance.

There are several things that seem unbelievable or artificial. For example, the film repeatedly makes it clear to us that Tyler is a quitter. After this has been explicitly stated a few times, he has to show this again by actually stopping the dance lessons. The reason for this is that he is offended at Nora’s criticism of his absence earlier that day, stating alongside that the rehearsal room is now occupied. And why does Tyler’s best friend Mac (Damaine Radcliff) suddenly drop him, having taken the trap for a crime they committed together? His association with Nora means he’s been away a little longer than his service demands, making it almost impossible for him to hang out with him to steal cars or play basketball, but this isn’t something to risk your friendship for, is it? And the way Mac and Tyler are found to suddenly repent, through a death, is out of tune with the light-hearted atmosphere of the rest of the film. Other plot points, or more natural transformations, could have easily been found. But the camaraderie of the three friends Tyler, Mac, and Skinny, is wittily depicted, and Tyler’s poor home situation is interestingly contrasted with Nora’s (mother’s) chic but rigid household. She dines there alone with her mother, at a table that is too big, while Tyler’s house is a nice mess, with lots of people and lots of laughter, despite the poverty. And as said, the dance scenes are okay, and the lead roles are well played. Jenna Dewan is an attractive figure, and not much less provocative than she was as the dangerous temptress in the lousy horror film ‘Tamara’. Tyler is believable as a street dancer from the “hood”, but walks through the film somewhat indifferently, and seems to have little reach in his acting. We don’t feel as strongly about him as we did with Julia Stiles in ‘Save the Last Dance’. But despite all this, the film still swings quite pleasantly. It’s the dance and music that saved ‘Step Up’ from total ruin.