STEP UP 3D
US, 2010, 107 minutes, Colour.
Rick Malambri, Sharni Vinson, Adam G. Sevani, Alyson Stoner .
d. Jon M. Chu.
Dance movies have been popular over recent years, especially with competitions from ballroom to the streets. The British 3D film, Street Dance, made a connection between popular stomping styles and ballet. Actually, here there are two interludes from/interruptions to the Step Up group style confrontational acrobatic dancing (apart from some scenes of familiar drama that interrupt the dancing from time to time): a ballroom tango performance with the two leads and a Gene Kelly routine that reminds us of Singin' in the Rain by the two secondary leads. But, all in all, if you've seen the other two films, you've seen most of this one too.
The difference? 3D.
When 3D works well, the audience is immersed in the action. This is the advantage here. Much of the dancing is highly energised and choreographed to make the 3D have maximum effect. If you enjoy this kind of dancing, then sit, not back, but forward, with the 3D glasses, and be involved.
The story line is Step Up 101 in its familiarity. Competition, rivalries, betrayals, friendships, breaking of friendships, falling in love, competition from studies (and finals always seem to be programmed during exams that can't be missed), a champion to the rescue at the end – and victory, as if we didn't know.
The performances of the leads are serviceable. Rick Malabri looks good enough but it would seem his double did a lot of dancing. Australian Sharni Vinson has some presence and did her dancing. Adam G. Sevani from Step Up 2 shows great versatility even though his character is made to look and act like a geek. And the villain behaves in a dastardly fashion.
Colour, music, noise, movement, dance – and 3D.
1. The popularity of this kind of film, Street Dance, Step Up…? The popularity of the dense, dance, the movements, teamwork, individual skills? Competitions?
2. The New York setting, the huge warehouse for the Pirates, the film-making in the editing room? Outside the warehouse? The streets? New York University? Homes of departments?
3. The importance of the music, the style, the rhythms, the choreography?
4. The basic plot, dancing, competitions, rivalries, treachery, success? And romance?
5. Luke, his personality, as a street dancer, his crew, the Pirates? Discussions about dance, the making of the film? Leading the dense? The training? The hopes of winning the prize, paying off the debt on the building? The World Champ Finals? His finding Moose? Friendship, inviting him in? Meeting Natalie, her seeing him editing his film, encouragement? His rival, Julien? Formerly one of the Pirates? His gambling, the debts? The various heats, the Pirates and their winning? The footage and its appearing on the Internet? At least party, Julien telling Luke about her? His anger, notice of foreclosure, group disbanding? The group getting together again, Natalie joining, then victory? Natalie going to the California Station, kissing, a future in California?
6. Natalie, interested in dance, her family background, Julien her brother, bringing him up? Meeting Luke, the film? Julien asking to come back, refusal, his denouncing them? Reaction? The fixing things? Joining the group reassembled? Going to California, the kiss, accompanying Luke?
7. Moose, attending university, long distance? His love of dance? Seeing him in action? Camille as his best friend, not knowing that he was a dancer? Feeling neglect? Moose telling her about the dancing, group tdisbanding, helping to get all together again? The happy ending for Moose and Camille?
8. Julien, in the Pirates, his gambling, the clash with Luke, getting the rehearsal footage, asking his sister to spy on him, his relationship with the Natalie? His being defeated?
9. Standard characters, standard situations, the popularity of the dancing at the competitiveness, the highlights of the film, the choreography and its inventiveness – and in 3-D?
