Opening 7 Jun 2012
Directed by:
Max Giwa
Writing credits:
Jane English
Principal actors:
Sofia Boutella, George Sampson, Tom Conti, Falk Hentschel, Stephanie Nguyen
Ash (Falk Hentschel) earns merciless ridicule for landing flat on his butt at a StreetDance competition against world-champion Invincible. Only streetdancer Eddie (George Sampson) admires Ash for the courage to take on Invincible in the first place and sees his potential. He offers to be his manager. Together they set out to assemble a dance crew from all over Europe to win the next ‘battle’ and avenge the humiliation. Their last stop – only weeks to the rematch – is Paris. Eddie needs to finally tell Ash that the main component of his ‘winning plan’ is to present a never-before-tried fusion of StreetDance and Salsa. But the plan depends on whether Eva (Sofia Boutella), ravishingly beautiful and talented Salsa dancer of the Paris club scene, agrees to be part of the team, and whether Ash is willing and able to learn the Salsa moves in as little time as is left.
This 3-D romance was written and directed by the team (Jane English; Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini) that brought StreetDance to the screen in 2010. StreetDance 2 is best where it is just a ‘music & dance video’, featuring talented and likeable dancers – above all Sofia Boutella. Added fun is watching this in 3-D. But the implausible and cookie cutter storyline – with setbacks and successes culminating in winning a dance competition – has been done too often, and with better – if not terrific – acting. The two stars go to the dancers only. (Carola A)
