Opening 5 Oct 2006
Directed by:
Anne Fletcher
Writing credits:
Duane Adler, Melissa Rosenberg
Principal actors:
Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Damaine Radcliff
The combination of music, dance and romance will always provide material for a big screen narrative like Step Up, directed by Anne Fletcher. Fletcher, a performing artist herself, combines music and dance from the worlds of Hip-Hop, Street and the Classics to pose the question: If given a second chance to make a difference with your life, would you take it?
Life in the Baltimore hood for Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) offers little hope until his run-in with the law compels him to check out the world across the tracks. Tyler must do community service as a janitor at Maryland’s elite School for the Arts where he meets Nora (Jenna Dewan), who is in desperate need of a dance partner for her senior project. Tyler steps up to the challenge of being Nora’s partner, even though his own art of dance is completely different than hers. The choices that Tyler and Nora make thereafter effect them for the rest of their lives.
In spite of a “beautiful people” cast, the film steps down due to a weak script and predictable narrative which caused me to look at my watch more than a few times during the duration of the film. Step Up is no comparison to other famous dance films, but it has enough magnetism to make for a relaxing video rental night. (Karen Pecota)
