Step Up Revolution

In this fourth installment of the popular (albeit formulaic) franchise, Emily (Kathryn McCormick)—a Miami gal with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer—falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), who along with his childhood buddy Eddy (Misha Gabriel) leads an underground dance crew in cutting-edge flash mob routines that are captured on video, competing for $1 million in a YouTube contest. But when a ruthless real estate developer (Peter Gallagher)—who also happens to be Emily's father—threatens to turn their historic neighborhood into commercial property and displace thousands of residents, Emily, Sean, and their friends turn their fleet-footed mob performance into protest art, risking their personal dreams to fight for a greater cause. First-time feature director Scott Speer's Step Up Revolution boasts some inventive, percussive urban dance sequences—including one in an art museum and another in a city council meeting—but suffers from a flaccid, derivative script and insipid acting. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Scott Speer, choreographer Jamal Sims, and costars Kathryn McCormick and Ryan Guzman, behind-the-scenes featurettes on “Choreography” (11 min.), “Making the Mob” (10 min.), “Becoming a Star” (5 min.), and “Dancing on Their Own” (5 min.), deleted scenes (4 min.), the music videos “Goin' In” by Jennifer Lopez featuring Flo Rida and “Hands in the Air” by Timbaland featuring Ne-Yo, a “Flash Mob Index” of dance segments, and bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film. The Blu-ray release adds a 3D version and DVD copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an ultimately disappointing film.] (S. Granger)