Next Step

Next in our search for dance movies as replacements for action movies: Step Up (2006).

In this one, Channing Tatum is a tough street dancer, who gets tossed out of a house party for dancing with the big man’s girl. He and his low-life friends Damaine Radcliff and De’Shawn Washington, vandalize a school auditorium for kicks, and he gets caught. His sentence is to do 200 hours community service at the school.

It takes a while, but soon he meets Jenna Dewan (now Ms. Tatum). She’s a hard-driven dancer, preparing for her exhibition piece. Her partner has sprained an ankle and all the other male upper class dancers can do a lift. Finally, Tatum convinces her that he can be her practice partner until her real partner recovers. But can Tatum, who has never finished anything in his life, stick it out?

Spoiler - yes. The other big question - can a street dancer learn anything from modern ballet, and vice versa. Spoiler - duh. This is not controversial. In fact, when Tatum’s friends rag him for hanging out at the rich kids’ school, Heavy D tells them they ignorant. Obviously street culture and high culture can co-exist.

And finally, can Tatum dance? I’ve got to say, yes. His moves may not be rock solid, but he’s loose and funky. Also, incredibly athletic, with the flips and handstands. The rest of the dancers are great too, as are Mario, as a student composer/DJ and Drew Sidora as a singer.

As for the plot, well, there’s a few changers - I won’t spoil it, but I bet you can figure out who doesn’t survive the movie.