DVD--Step Up 3

or: Ahhhh...the wonders of 3D on a laptop screen.

One word to sum it up: Dancey.

People my age, especially around these parts of the Earth, are really into these dancing movies. I suspect it's because it doesn't require much thinking and it's all about the 'gangsta' music and break dancing. Step Up 3 is no exception to that rule. However, it offers more spectacular dancing because it was made in 3D, which isn't so spectacular on a laptop screen where I had slushy thrown at my screen. The dancing is pretty much the only thing this movie has going for it, but the subpar acting and overly cliched story are made somehow bearable.

A tight-knit group of New York City street dancers, including Luke (Rick Malambri) and Natalie (Sharni Vinson), team up with NYU freshman Moose (Adam G. Sevani), and find themselves pitted against the world's best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever.

The trilogy of dancing films have grown so far apart that it has become apparent that these films are being made as money spinners and light entertainment for those who can't be bothered watching an actual film. They're basically a showcase of dancing talent and people doing some pretty spectacular moves that we would never see randomly in the real world. Neither of the sequels have anything on the first one, which had more story than dancing, but this third installment proves to be pretty good. The story is pretty slight, but then again, some of the themes interwoven into this movie are inspiring; not only for dancers, but for film makers too. Luke's little documentary making proves that there is always a way to start, and I guess if he was real then he might have a future in film making.

One of the problems with Step Up 3, however, is the way it tries to be a musical. I mean, no one really runs around jumping off stuff in the name of dancing. Or starts dancing to the tune of an ice cream truck, for that matter. It just makes this movie so cheesy, and unfortunately very strange to watch. I don't expect huge doses of realism in this type of movie, but those scenes seem so out of place. The acting in this film could have been better, but it is understandably hard to find people who are that good at dancing and are also good at acting. The dialogue, too, isn't too great, but who cares? The dancing is bloody amazing, and that somehow makes up for most of the films flaws.


THE VERDICT: Not thought provoking or fulfulling in any way, but provides light entertainment and a visual spectacular for the younger generation.

6/10