STEP UP 3D (REVIEW)
Rated
M
107 mins
STARRING: Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson
Stoner, Kendra Andrews
This is the third instalment and
inevitable 3D offering of the popular dance flick franchise. Effervescent Moose
(Adam G. Sevani), a graduate from 'Step Up 2', teams up with a tight knit group
of New York street dancers known as The Pirates. After a spontaneous dance-off
in a city park, Moose shows some serious twinkle toes and gains the attentions
of Pirates captain, Luke. His crew of misfits and homeless also happen to be amazingly
talented dancers all with their own significant style.
Moose
is a good dancer with hip style, but he is also studying so one is eventually
going to outweigh the other, which will it be? However, the bank is threatening
to close down the house / loft, where this rag-tag team live. It also doubles
as their training studio so being locked out is not an option while Luke is running
the ship. Of course, the Pirates are in with a chance to win a big dance contest
for a $100,000 prize that will go straight back to the bank and inturn will keep
their studio alive.
Their main obstacle is rivals, The Samurais.
They include former Pirates in their crew. Along the way the group learn some
valuable life lessons, some even fall in love and deliver emotions that will change
their lives. Everything happens throughout 'Step Up 3D' very fast and very predictably.
Straight forward storytelling is a classic genre undemanding plot with nothing
new to say, but it's fun.
The impressive dancing is wanderlust,
good-looking individuals with amazing talent to burn. The film, as one would expect,
sports an electrifying soundtrack including such urban ravers as Estelle, M.I.A
and T-Pain. Like the quirky beats, the city skyline is also a highlight. New York
looks rather good in 3D, especially a trip down Broadway near the start of the
film. The young cast is quite good. Last seen in the Bruce Willis science fiction
cloning flop 'Surrogates', Rick Malambri is effective as Luke. A promising amateur
filmmaker, his charm is matched by his swagger, while the ladies no doubt will
be swooning to his disco inferno.
Australian starlet and veteran
of 103 'Home & Away' episodes, Sharni Vinson gleams as Natalie. A passionate
person who doesn't know how to live unless it's through dance. Gaining the heart
of Luke and joining forces to compete in the big finale, Vinson will be one local
to watch on the Hollywood radar. Solid support from newcomers, Alyson Stoner and
an energetic flaming red head, Kendra Andrews are interesting to say the least.
The
choreograpghy is a dream, among the many snappy routines is a boogie involving
splashing water, a truly inventive way to use the 3D medium. Turn up the boom
box and enjoy this entertaining film fodder.
Shane A. Bassett
