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Catholic movie review - Step Up 3D |
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By John Mulderig - Catholic News Service
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Friday, 06 August 2010 |
Three-dimensional effects enhance the precision choreography showcased in "Step Up 3D" (Disney).
Rick Malambri and Sharni Vinson star in a scene from the movie "Step Up 3D." CNS photo/Touchstone
But the nimble numbers in this tale retreading familiar Hollywood themes of dream fulfillment and the self-selecting circle of friends as do-it-yourself substitute family are interspersed with flat-footed dialogue, a creaky plot and some provocative moves and lyrics.
This third installment of the street stomping franchise, which began
with 2006's "Step Up," shifts the setting from Baltimore to New York and
focuses on Luke (Rick Malambri), the charismatic and caring leader of a
Gotham dance crew called the Pirates.
Discovering, in rapid succession, the hoofing gifts of New York
University freshman Moose (Adam G. Sevani) and nightclub denizen Natalie
(Sharni Vinson), Luke recruits them for the group, taking slightly
nerdy engineering student Moose under his man-of-the-world wing while
quickly succumbing to Natalie's charms. Luke, we learn, needs all the
help he can get to win the upcoming, multi-round dance championship
called World Jam, the proceeds from which will forestall foreclosure on
the loft where he and the Pirates live and practice.
But Moose is plagued by academic and amorous distractions, the latter
caused by his high school best bud and fellow NYU frosh Camille (Alyson
Stoner), who secretly yearns to be more than just pals, while Natalie --
despite her sensitive support for Luke's potential as a would-be
filmmaker -- is not, alas, all she seems. Also hindering Luke's quest
for the World Jam prize money is former friend-turned-rival Julien (Joe
Slaughter), the scheming, underhanded frontman for the Pirates' main
opposition, the Samurai.
Inept storytelling aside -- oh, no, Moose's big test is the same night
as the next World Jam match! -- there's a generally buoyant feel to the
proceedings in director Jon M. Chu's follow-up to his 2008 feature debut
"Step Up 2: The Streets," best exemplified perhaps by a
sidewalks-of-New York set piece shared by Moose and Camille that
cleverly evokes classic Tinseltown fare of the Astaire-Rogers and Gene
Kelly variety.
Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.
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Both of the main romantic relationships are wholesome, straying no
further than Luke and Natalie's occasional dance-floor clinch. And the
passing flashes of humor in Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer's script --
several of them playing on the stereotype of the hard-boiled Gothamite
-- mostly hit the mark, though some viewers of faith may be put off by a
joking application of the phrase "What would Jesus do?"
The film contains at least one use of the S-word, occasional crass
language, a mildly irreverent joke and scenes of moderately suggestive
dancing. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults.
The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents
strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children
under 13.
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