Step Up 3D (2010)

10 Comments

1. 

   jon.h.ochiai (jochiai@socal.rr.com) from Los Angeles, CA
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   "Step Up 3D" maybe the best 3D movie since "Avatar". You laugh. For one thing "Step Up 3D" was filmed in 3D—no post production enhancement. Seeing amazing street dancing is visually stunning in 3D. One distinguishing sequence has Moose (Adam G. Sevani) splashing his moves on the water flooded stage. In another electrifying sequence the dance troop Pirates move in unison in LED lit costumes. One sees "Step Up 3D" for the 3D—entirely.
   
   No ground breaking storytelling here. Amy Anderson and Emily Meyer's screenplay barely eclipses perfunctory. This is the coming of age story of misunderstood young people overcoming the odds to compete in the First Annual World Dance Jam. The dialogue is awful. We endure the speaking interludes throughout the movie to get to the dancing, which is spectacular. Director Jon Chu has a dramatic sense of line and chaos with a provocative and flourishing visual style.
   
   The dancing is spectacular. Jon Chu has assembled some of the best street dancers in the world. The Santiago Twin (spirited Martin and Facundo Lombard) just kill in the World Dance Jam. Chadd Smith as Vlad, whose specialty is the Robot dance, is absolutely awesome—in 3D the effect is mesmerizing. Sharni Vinson, who plays stunningly beautiful and ripped nomad street dancer Natalie, is elevation and grace combined. The capoeira practice she performs with Luke (cool and handsome Rick Malambri) is high velocity precision. Chu is also a student of the classic musical. He films an homage to "Singing in the Rain" in a single take with Moose and his almost girlfriend Camile (Alyson Stoner) as they duet down the street. Chu also provides such visual texture and touch in the World Dance Jam itself mixing the Wushu influenced Asian street dancers along with the breakers and the poppers.
   
   Even with the corny dialogue and lame story lines, the opening sequence gets it right. Luke (Malambri) runs a shelter and dance studio for down and out street dancers- his parents' legacy. Luke's passion is film-making. As the movie opens we see Luke film interviews with his dancers. This wonderfully captures that dancers are never more present to life or have more joy than when they are dancing. Authentic passion transcends the written words, and is inspired. In a roundabout way "Step Up 3D" is at its best when it is in the moment in 3D, Otherwise, we are left with that Moose is too stupid, albeit a brilliant engineering student, to see that Camile is in love with him, and that he really loves her. Mysterious Natalie may not be who she appears, and that she and Luke are falling for each other. And does anyone really take a train to Los Angeles from New York?
   
   We kind of know the answers to these questions. So what there is to do is enjoy the dancing.

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2. 

   Steyrvolt from United States
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   Dancing movies are hilarious. Stop taking them seriously. People watch bad horror movies all the time and laugh their asses off, yet they don't seem to understand that they can, and should, do the same thing with dance. Step Up 2 the Streets is absolutely hilarious. Step Up 3D just takes the dancing and bland story of Step Up 2, mixes it with the plot of Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and sprinkles a bit of 3D acid into the mix. Entire theatres should be breaking out into uproarious laughter, both during and in between the dance scenes.
   
   This is a comedic gold mine.
   
   If you want to watch it for good dancing, then you get that too, as a bonus. All of these 1/10 reviewers need to grow a sense of humour. This movie is only boring for a few minutes. The rest is just epic.
   
   9.5/10 rounded up to a 10.
   
   Learn to have fun. You'll live longer.

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3. 

   jmblfc93 from United Kingdom
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   i watched this film yesterday with the girlfriend, and i didn't have high hopes for the film at all, I'm not really into dance/romance movies. But during the film, with each minute i became more and more in love with it. I mean WOW!! step up 3D delivers like no other dance movie out there. This movie was amazing! the 3D was incredible, the dancing was out of this world, the songs on the film were amazing! my and my girlfriend were singing along to them, but the storyline lacked abit, apart from the storyline, Justin Chi has made the perfect dance film! I'm even debating going to see this movie again next week! although the last too step up movies lacked character, the latest instalment in the franchise definitely gives the trilogy the buzz that it needs! i rate this movie 9/10, it would of been 10/10 if the storyline wasn't lacking abit! even if you hate dance movies this movie in definitely worth watching.

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4. 

   tbabe29 from SF Bay Area, CA
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   Okay, first of all, remember folks, that dancers aren't actors. And apparently no one was a writer either because the script sounded like it was written in about 10 minutes, BUT, this movie was thoroughly entertaining anyway.
   
   Me and my hip hoppers saw this movie after dance class and we were NOT disappointed! When we weren't watching the mesmerizing dance routines, we were laughing out loud at the horribly cheesy dialogue and plot.
   
   The best part of the movie,(besides the dancing), is the character Moose. He is our main protagonist and is the most believable in regards to acting and character development. He and his BFF have a more convincing romantic storyline than their two older beautiful people counterparts.
   
   If you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the dancing and not take this movie too seriously, you will love it! Especially if you are a dancer.

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5. 

   GB Joiner (adpiprincess03) from Washington
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   I have to say that I am a fan of the series. The dancing in the first movie was great, but the subsequent films has had amazing numbers. I could see why Chu would want to do the film in 3D. 3D is the "it" thing these days, and the dance sequences were enhanced by the technology. That being said, 90% of the film didn't require 3D. I hate wearing the glasses unless I'm on a ride at Disney. I feel like a lot of the films that employ 3D technology also release a 2D version (a good thing for people like me). I wish Step Up 3D would have given the option, even if the name denotes the extra dimension. As for the cast, I was disappointed in the male lead but not because of his acting or looks. He is beautiful and can act. However, he apparently can't dance. I felt like if he was going to stand on the sidelines during battles or have obvious doubles they could have played him even heavier as the "director". Moose and Camille pulled off what could have been an impossibility: tying the first and second film together with the third in a realistic manner. Unlike Channing Tatum's cameo to tie the first and second films together, making Moose and Camille besties going to college together was brilliant. The soundtrack is great (even though some of the songs you'll recognized from other recent shows: Glee and Sex and the City). All in all, I enjoyed the movie and left the theater wanting to dance. The film (like any self- respecting franchise) leaves it wide open for a fourth. A word of advice: make like The Fast and the Furious and wait 'til you're missed and can get the entire cast together to go for #4.

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6. 

   jakimiku from Tartu, Estonia
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   First of all, ask yourself why would you watch Step Up 3D? Good acting, deep plot, memorable dialogue? If you are going for any of the above, don't. Step Up 3D is all about dancing, it offers you sick moves and superb visuals. And well, in my point of view, even though the plot has some holes and is predictable, it is actually works well enough.
   
   The beginning scene gets it moving. Why do you dance? To express. Because we can be someone amazing when we move. So, in the movie we got astonishing dancers, outstanding choreography and so much color and visuals that its really a great watch, especially in 3D. And 3D works very well for this film. Just… when you see the choreography, how can you not love the movie? Its just sick. Some of the scenes are brilliant, watch out for the one briefly seen in the trailer, when Moose and Camille are dancing through the city. That scene steals the show.
   
   Well, Moose, played by Adam G. Sevani, is the best character in the movie. He is believable, can act and is the only one with any character development. He also has pretty good charisma that makes him interesting to watch, and is quite funny. We also have some of the best (and i really mean the best) dancers from all around the world, starting with bboys and finishing with the finalists of SYTYCD. And all the other ones. And, as a dancer, i had to pick up my dropped jaw from the floor after the movie. Did i mention awesome dancing?
   
   So, this movie is made for specific audience and as for it, isn't for everyone. Dancers are going to love this. We'll always have those who will bash this movie and see it as the worst ever made, but they're just haters. If you're up for some insanity on the dancefloor, colorness and excitement, watch Step Up 3D. It will blow your mind off, and take the roof with it. I like.

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7. 

   Troy_Campbell from Sydney, Australia
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   If you've seen one break-dance flick, then let's be frank, you've seen them all. The blue print is the same each and every time, lots of awesome dance sequences with gap-filling scenes of excruciating acting, non-existent plot and direlogue that wouldn't feel out of place in a Z-grade horror film. With those standards in mind, the most effective entries into this genre do two very simple things: maximise the eye-boggling dance routines and minimise the yawn-inducing guff that fills the rest of the runtime.
   
   Step Up 3D only gets half of the above equation right. An unnecessary amount of time is wasted on boring dross like predictable plot twists and deep and meaningful (read: long and laughable) conversations about how profoundly dancing can affect people. Honestly, who cares? From the moment the main character tells his new BFF that "he's BFAB, born from a beatbox" in the first ten minutes, all further dialogue should've been ceased immediately. I'm serious, they should've let the music and moves do the talking for the remaining 90 minutes. That way our gag-reflex wouldn't have been tested by Vinson (ex-Home and Away star) and Malambri's acting.
   
   When the bodies are twirling, contorting, flinging, jumping, smashing or moving like a robot the film unsurprisingly finds its legs. Choreographed with flair and panache, the set-pieces incorporate the 3D technology decently enough by having dancers approach the camera with fast, whippy hand movements, however the depth of the stage was employed more successfully by its British counterpart StreetDance 3D. Regardless, there are still a handful of entertaining dance-offs that impress on varying levels.
   
   Replete with the freshest hip-hop tunes and sporadic inventiveness – mainly in the form of illuminated costumes – this trilogy-closer may tickle your fancy, but that is wholly reliant on whether you're BFAB or not.
   
   2.5 out of 5 (1 – Rubbish, 2 – Ordinary, 3 – Good, 4 – Excellent, 5 - Classic)

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8. 

   LadyN1 from United Kingdom
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   I have to admit that seeing Step Up 3D was probably one of the most hypocritical things i've done. Why? Because i want to watch a movie that will entertain OR challenge my thinking or just genuinely interest me. Within the first 10 seconds of the trailer I summarised most of the basic (and I do mean basic) plot. So out of my love for the movies i thought there was no way i would watch what looked like a terrible film. HOW WRONG I WAS. OK, to be fair I was not expecting a Spielburg or Scorcese masterpiece but still the plot of this movie is so lackluster and the performances so forgettable its almost impossible to not guess the entire plot within the first 10 minutes. So why did I give it a 7? For 2 and only 2 reasons.
   
   1) The dancing. Lets be real thats what we all paid to see. I think midway through the dance movie mania thats sweeping the world faster than the bubonic plague, one realises that if we ignore virtually everything about the plot we actually have to recognise the dancing as an art. A living breathing piece of art. No matter how cool or street the moves in this film are the dancing is still beautiful and breathtaking to watch on screen. The timing, the pace, the apparent effortless style of the moves is astonishing so on that note the actors or rather dancers in this movie ought to be recognised for that.
   
   2) Adam G Sevani. Not that its much of a struggle for a teenage street dancer to play an awkward teenage street dancer BUT…this guys got potential. Seriously the way he delivers the lines with sincerity almost makes the movie seem to be taking itself seriously as a film. Also he is the only character with a solid back story and development and REAL conflict. Does he choose to stick with his passion even if its uncertain or the security of a good education. A decision a lot of teens and even adults must face. He is charming and a fantastic dancer. I actually feel sorry for him because the promotion for the film implies the other attractive girl and the pretty boy with the camera are the lead characters. But no ladies and gentlemen, it is the skinny curly haired boy in the corner. Watch out for this guy he may be the breakout star to look out for in the near future.
   
   So Step Up 3D is a long bland shambles of a film you might as well just place all the sequences together and eradicate most of the plot. However put 3/4 of the movie aside and you have some of the most amazing scenes ever shot on film. So my advice is we stop going to these movies expecting to see high art or even decent storytelling and just sit back and enjoy the ride or rather the moves.

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9. 

   Saad Khan from Pakistan
   16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

   STEP UP 3D – CATCH IT ( B ) Step Up 3D has the most mind blowing and jaw dropping dancing. The music and dance performances of the movie are par excellence. All the dances are so fun to watch but Obviously the End Dance wins it all, it was Super Fantastic. The only thing Step up 3D lacked big time is its acting department, obviously all them can dance exceptionally well but their acting was quite poor except for Adam G.Sevani Aka. Moss and Alyson Stoner Aka. Cam. Adam and Alyson has prior acting experience so they were great along with their dancing. Adam and Alyson's road dance was one of the sweetest dance performance I've ever seen. Stunning looking Sharni Vinson danced really well and in some scenes she acted quite well. Gorgeous Boy Rick Malambri was the weakest Actor and Dancer among them all. His dancing with Sharni Vinson was great but in whole group he was the weakest link. Sadly, he had no expressions on his face whether he is serious, sad, happy or funny, he had the same expressions except when he Smiles. I think he got this job because of his looks because he is a terrible actor. One thing besides his good looks saved him was his awesome chemistry with Sharni Vinson. All the other dancers were great in dancing and terrible in acting. Overall its highly enjoyable because of its Incredible dance routines so, if we forget the terrible acting by most of them, its pretty good.

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10. 

    KineticSeoul from United States
    16 Nov 2011, 2:05 pm

    Sure the story is probably the weakest from the 3, but the dancing is the most entertaining to watch from the 3 movies as well. And the 3D aspects of the film is done pretty well and was a lot of fun to watch. The past two movies is better when it comes to the plot, but still boring and I couldn't careless about it in this. Since it is mostly ridiculous, but it's just really ridiculous this time around. But if you want to see a dance flick with cool dancing in it, go check this movie out. I am also really glad Moose makes a comeback in this, the kid is one cool nerd and the kid can really freaking dance. Overall although the plot is laughably ridiculous, the dancing and the 3D aspects of it was a ton of fun to watch. Would have been even more entertaining if it had more dancing competitions in it.
    
    7/10

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