We’ve barely cooled our heels over “How She Move.” Now it’s time to “Step Up 2 the Streets”? They’re the same movie, at least in terms of story arc. Poor girl tries to make a break for herself by winning a big step competition.
Her academics, her new school, compete with her old “crew” for her mortal soul. Ahem, sole.
Of course, both are retreads of the “You Got Served”/”Stomp the Yard” step-dancing-fad films. January’s “How She Move” was grittier, felt more real. But not by much.
“Step Up 2,” a sequel to 2006’s “Step Up,” is a slicker, more graceful and sexier drama about step dance — rhythmically choreographed high- speed break-dancing. From its Disney-approved teen-models cast to the white-bread script, it’s “Move” without the edge.
Like the original “Step Up,” it’s about a kid who finds love and purpose when she synthesizes her mad street skillz with some formal dance training. Only not. The sequel just flat-out disses ballet, even as it showcases some serious choreography in its showstopping dance numbers.
Andie (Briana Evigan) is from the tough streets of Baltimore. She’s growing up without parents, taken in by a friend of her mother. She’s part of the 410 crew, merry dance pranksters given to staging bits of street theater/dance on the subways.
But Andie needs purpose. She’s given it by Tyler (Channing Tatum of the original “Step Up”). He challenges her to a battle. If she loses, she has to audition for the Maryland School for the Arts.
That’s where Andie meets the handsome Chase (Robert Hoffman). And that’s where she runs afoul of Chase’s by-the-book choreographer- brother, Blake (Will Kemp).
Will Andie find love? Will she fit in? Will her old crew let her move on? And will they all meet and duel in The Street, the annual rave/dance- off that gives bragging rights to the best crew in Baltimore? Definitely.
Evigan is about as “street” as a dog-show poodle, from her perfectly coiffed ‘do to her vast collection of midriff-baring T-shirts and tops. But the girl can dance.
The slang, the perky players and a couple of the dance numbers keep “Step Up 2” on its feet just long enough to work up a sweat. Just don’t expect to recognize the “streets” here. The only traffic these fantasy avenues handle is starlets.
“Step Up 2 the Streets”
PG-13 for language, some suggestive material and brief violence. 1 hour, 37 minutes. Directed by Jon Chu. Starring Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp. Opens today at area theaters.
