LEAD CAST: Kathryn
McCormick, Ryan Guzman, Adam Sevani, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher DIRECTOR: Scott Speer SCREENWRITER:
Jenny Mayer PRODUCER: Jon M. Chu
EDITOR: Ben Howdeshell, Steve Ngo MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Aaron Zigman GENRE: Musical, Drama CINEMATOGRAPHER: Karsten Gopinath RUNNING
TIME: 99 minutes DISTRIBUTOR: Summit Entertainment,
Touchstone Pictures
LOCATION: United States
Technical: 4
Moral: 3
CINEMA rating: V 14
A newcomer in Miami, Emily Anderson (Kathryn McCormick), aspires to
become a professional dancer. At a bar she
meets Sean (Ryan Guzman), a young man who flashes his six-pack abs and leads a
dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs. Because Emily is an exceptional dancer as
that first meeting reveals, Sean manages to get her in their crew, called the MOB. The MOB is currently campaigning to win a YouTube
contest for a major sponsorship opportunity to the tune of $100,000, but a rich
businessman threatens to destroy the MOB's historic beach front neighborhood in
the name of “development.” The process will
surely displace thousands of residents, many of them having lived there all
their lives. If the deal pushes through,
where will the MOB crew go? What will
happen to their hopes of winning the contest?
Guess what, the rich businessman is Emily’s father. Now Emily must collaborate with Sean and the
MOB to turn their performance art into protest art and risk losing their dreams
to fight for what they believe to be a greater cause.
One goes to this type of movie presumably for the dances. While there is a well-meaning story it is
almost a second thought, as though the makers decided, “Oh, wow, we ‘ve got a
winning combination here—toned bodies with superb moves, rousing music,
fantastic choreography—let’s write a story to go with it.” It appears that Step Up Revolution was born that way. In case you want to see the movie, follow the
story to its predictable ending, but close an eye to the acting. Close-ups are especially telling of the actors’
lack of emotive power. Don’t bother to
question, either, the financial capacity of the MOB to produce such costly
props and costumes, vintage cars, etc; they are all there for effect. Sensitive viewers might be bothered by the
impunity with which the movie allows the MOB to damage public and property just
so they could perform with maximum impact, wow audiences, and gather You Tube
hits. So, parents, it’s your choice: if
you go to watch it, just tap your foot to the music, wish you were young again,
and warn your kids never to try those acrobatic moves at home.
