You Better Step It Up.

"Step kick, step fan, step turn, ball change, contract."

That's a riveting excerpt of dialogue from the new dance movie currently playing in theaters, "Step Up." It might as well be called "Save the Fame Dance For Center Stage" as it seems to throw every dance movie into a blender, smash it up and then regurgitate it like a mama bird feeding the audience. Can no one write a decent dance movie script? I understand that teen movies are like the J.K. Rowling's of cinema (ooo...I might get killed for that one) but even Rowling can write a good storyline.

This movie is made to be a commentary on ballet vs. Hip-hop used as an allegory for social class systems but with such a cliched script and not nearly enough dancing (or as just about everyone I have talked to agrees, shirtless lead actor) it's just a little wah-wah. That's not to say there aren't enjoyable parts. I found myself laughing hysterically when the lead boy enters the arts high school to find not only teenagers at school, but teenagers running around in dance clothes, riffing down the halls, having violin jams by their lockers, carrying huge canvases, beat boxing and reading dramatic monologues. That's so realistic.....Bravo screenwriters.

It also really pushed the boundaries as far as dance attire goes. The lead girl mixes dance clothes and real clothes as if she got dressed while having a seizure in the dark. Then again that could have been the technique used for the writing and direction as well....at least they were consistent. Four Stars.

DON'T FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARKS (I say that like anyone has this site bookmarked) with the new address!!!! http://rantingdetails.blogspot.com