Step Up Revolution [Step Up: Miami Heat]

"OK"

Step Up Revolution [Step Up: Miami Heat] Review


The Step Up franchise has never been noted for its astute screenwriting, but this instalment sets the bar so low that even its bendy cast members would have trouble limboing under it. Even so, the cut-and-paste characters and plot can't make this sweaty dance movie boring.

In a noble but poor neighbourhood under a stack of bridges by the Miami River, Sean (Guzman) and his pal Eddy (Gabriel) lead an underground dance crew called The Mob to perform flash-mob antics in picturesque locations. Their goal is to win an online competition and go pro. Then Sean meets Emily (McCormick), whose property tycoon dad (Gallagher) wants to destroy Sean's neighbourhood to build another glitzy development. While trying to make her own way in dance school, Emily hides her identity to join The Mob and take on Dad.

Director Speer blands down Miami with glowy lighting, swirling mist and hosed-down streets. Not to mention faux-ethnic characters and dancing that's choreographed to within an inch of our noses (although the 3D is only effective in the climactic mega-dance). All of this is photographed by someone named Crash in a way that never quite captures the adrenaline of the street performances or the emotions of the characters.

Amid this sea of cliches, Gallagher lends the film some steeliness, although his misty-eyed moments are laughable. Guzman is strikingly photogenic, even if he doesn't have much presence as either a romantic lead or a dancer. But then the film essentially neuters him, allowing him only a couple of chaste kisses and some grinding, shirtless dance moves. McCormick is more expressive in a role that actually has some layers. And her dancing is beautiful.

In the end, this corny and under-developed movie is an engaging guilty pleasure. We never feel an inkling of suspense, nor do we believe that a group of scruffy but talented performers could stage any of these elaborately spectacular stunts, which would cost a small fortune to mount. But they look so relentlessly cool, and the central romance is so shamelessly cute, that we find ourselves smiling all the way through it.



Facts and Figures

Production compaines: Summit Entertainment

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 2.5 / 5

Cast & Crew

Director: Scott Speer

Starring: Kathryn McCormick as Emily, as Sean, as Jason, as Claire, Jessica Guadix as Dancer, Cleopatra Coleman as Penelope, Zoe Aggeliki as Dancer, Tommy Dewey as Tripp, as Mob Dancer, Adam G. Sevani as Moose, as Mr Anderson

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews