Step Up

Save Another Last Dance might be a more appropriate title, since the plot once again involves two youngsters from completely different worlds linked by their love of terpsichore. She's a rich kid into ballet, he's a foster child/street tough who's more the hip-hop type. But wouldn't you know it, they make beautiful moves together! By all rights Step Up should be a dull retread, but it's saved by the leads—Channing Tatum as Tyler, the troubled kid busted for vandalizing the Maryland School of the Arts and sentenced to work there, and Jenna Dewan as Nora, the student who suddenly finds herself in need of a new partner in the senior show. With few other options, Nora accepts Tyler's offer to step in, and the combination strikes sparks—and not just on the dance floor. Of course, Tyler's new relationships at the school cause friction with his old friends, who see him as a sellout, and a split between Tyler and Nora threatens their routine (and their romance), until at the last minute...well, you know. Principal Rachel Griffiths' air of arch bemusement also works well as she struts her authoritarian stuff. Director Anne Fletcher's Step Up is silly and formulaic, but it's also a high-spirited film with a winning cast, and ‘tween girls who've made High School Musical a phenomenon will love it. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an audio commentary (with costars Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, and director-choreographer Anne Fletcher), a “Making the Moves” featurette, MySpace.com Dance Contest videos, deleted scenes and bloopers, the music videos “Get Up” performed by Ciara and featuring Chamillionaire, “(When You Gonna) Give it Up to Me” performed by Sean Paul and featuring Keyshia Cole, “Say Goodbye” performed by Chris Brown, “Step Up” performed by Samantha Jade, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—July 17, 2012—Buena Vista, 103 min., PG-13, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2006's Step Up boasts a great transfer and features a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include an audio commentary (with costars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, director-choreographer Anne Fletcher, and hip-hop choreographer Jamal Sims), a “Making the Moves” featurette, deleted scenes (5 min.), bloopers (2 min.), the music videos “Get Up” by Ciara featuring Chamillionaire, “(When You Gonna) Give it Up to Me” by Sean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole, “Say Goodbye” by Chris Brown, and “Step Up” by Samantha Jade, and trailers. Bottom line: this energetic crowd-pleaser sparkles on Blu-ray.]