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The brand new movie Step Up follows fairly close on the heels of this year's previous dance movie, Take the Lead. It even has one of the same faces attached to it. What makes Step Up a step above its earlier genre mate are the dance scenes and like ability of the main characters. Where it falls short, as do most of these tales is in the unimaginative writing.  Step Up is the story of a wrong side of the tracks juvenile delinquent, Tyler (Channing Tatum), who has to serve community service at a local school of performing arts. While there he falls for the focused dancer Nora (Jenna Dewan) and begins to focus himself on what it means to step up to the challenges of a better life. It is also the tale of young hopefuls trying to fulfill their dreams and use their talents to the best of their abilities.

What surprised me about this movie was the actual dance talent that the main actors brought to the screen. Both Tatum and Dewan pull off some very tight and impressive steps. Dewan more understandably due to her extensive dance career but Tatum held his own quite well. Plus they can act. A prime thing to have in a movie. I enjoyed their chemistry and their ability to pull an audience into their characters. Tatum is a likable guy on and off screen and this transfers easily to his character, Tyler. You want him to succeed and that helps you pay attention despite this poorly written story.

The comparison between his destructive habits and his desire to better himself and those around him are just about the only well written part of
the film. The rest is just a rehash of every other dance/talent movie ever created. The same old song and dance about a poor guy trying to achieve success while battling those around him and his inner demons. Though I know this is true to life, I believe that more time could be lent to dialogue and situation then what this one achieved. It was so very predictable and didn't even try to hide what was coming next. I felt I struggled through these meandering moments in order to get to the next dance sequence. The club scene which including a nice performance with Lucy (Drew Sidora) and Miles (Mario) and the final dance routine turned a complete waste of time into something tolerable. Again I should state that this is in no part the fault of the great young talent in the film. It all falls squarely on the shoulders of the writers.

Step Up is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, brief violence and innuendo. Though the themes are intense I feel this movie would be ok for those 11 and up. Fans of dance shows in the line of Fame will find it one of the better titles available of late. I can only give it 2.75 out of 5 lifts. Unless you live and breathe the dance world you will find this overdone and a renter at best. My only hope is that it helps at least one kid find the spirit to Step Up and make a difference in their life. For that, it is all worth it. With a look at Step Up, I'm Matt Mungle.

The Mungle  8/09/06

Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com