Step Up 2: the Streets

A good movie is one that you rave about for three days after you see it and if you get the chance you will watch it again. For me, I usually ponder and discuss the more meaningful, heartfelt movies like ones that explain different strands of belief in the universe or the meaning of reincarnation. Just for a change I decided to watch "Step Up 2: The Streets" and boy was I impressed.

Andie (played by dancer, actress Briana Evigan) is a member of the 410 crew, a group that goes around showcasing their amazing dance talents illegally. When she sees a news report about it on TV, Andie's guardian decides that she has had enough of Andie and her illegal actions and Andie is moving to Texas to live with her Aunt. Andie's friend Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) understands her love for street dancing and convinces her to audition for the Maryland School of Arts (MSA) so that she can stay. She gets in, but only because of the determination of Chase Collins (Robert Hoffman) also a student at MSA, the younger brother of the new MSA director.

After showing quite clearly that upbeat music and hip hop moves are her forte, Andie is forced to stay for after school classes to teach her the more technical aspects of dance. Now she has to juggle 410 rehearsals and after school sessions which turns out not to be as easy as she planed. When she ends up late for the second time in a row, the 410 leader Tuck decides that Andie is not cut out be in the crew anymore.

Andie's new friend and MSA all star Chase Collins decides to come to the rescue. Together they recruit 10 dancers who do not fit into the mainstream, and they make a brand new, MSA Crew. The crew rehearse a tame but shiny routine after school and hope they can soon fit into the dance scene. Unfortunately, tame and shiny has no room on the streets. After embarrassing themselves at a local club, the crew realise they cannot be the best. Andie's friend Missy joins the crew and helps them realise they have what it takes. The MSA crew stage a prank and post it on the internet to show the streets that they are the new thing in town. This does not go down too well with the 410 crew and things start to get ugly.

With the twists and turns of your average teen movie, this movie goes through a lovely little flirt-and-smooch scene and without giving too much away, it all ends wrapped up nicely with a bright red bow on top. Everyone loves who they are supposed to, everyone that’s supposed to win does, and the people who are mean lose, and of course, they kiss. If only real life was so easy.

As a lover of dance this movie was a feast for the eyes. There were some of the greatest tricks and choreography I have ever seen. The pieces were danced in the most absurd ways that made you think that you can dance upside down, up the walls, on your head or balancing sideways on your friend. It was great. While it was not particularly deep and meaningful, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for its great dance moves and attractive actors.