Blu-Ray Review: ‘Step Up 3’ Delivers Exactly What it Promises

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CHICAGO – “Step Up 3” is not a film so much as a slickly photographed collage of superbly performed dance sequences. Its structure harkens back to the golden age of screen musicals where the plot merely functioned as an intermission between numbers. There’s no need to visit the previous “Step Up” installments before stepping into this one, since their plots are more or less identical.

SU3” merely aspires to entertain by utilizing the human body as its central special effect. The result is an irresistible burst of spirit-lifting escapism that sends the audience out on a wave of good feeling. Though the film’s acclaimed 3D visuals are available on a separate Blu-Ray edition, the stellar HD picture quality on the 2D version is second to none, while Ken Seng’s cinematography places the performers front and center, providing viewers with what feels like the best seat in the house.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

Director Jon Chu (“Step Up 2”) brings out the best in his massive ensemble of dancers, which number around 250. The plot follows the archaic formula best typified by the line, “Hey gang! Let’s put on a show to save the old barn/inn/or in this case, a New York City dance studio populated by starving young artists.” Luke (Rick Malambri) seduces NYU freshman Moose (Adam G. Sevani, from “SU2”) away from his studies and into his dance group, with the hope that he will assist them in beating their rivals at the World Jam Finals. The New York locations bring the franchise an added shot of adrenaline, while sharply contrasting with the Maryland School of the Arts, which served as the setting for the first two pictures (though the presence of “Empire State of Mind” during every NYC montage has officially become an annoyance). The clichés are so broad that they’re practically played for laughs, such as when Moose’s overbearing parents exclaim, “My son, the future engineer! So glad you’re done with dance!” Riiiight…

Rick Malambri and Sharni Vinson star in Jon Chu’s Step Up 3.
Rick Malambri and Sharni Vinson star in Jon Chu’s Step Up 3.
Photo credit: Touchstone Home Entertainment

While Rick romances the mysterious Natalie (Sharni Vinson, sporting the trademark “Step Up” midriff), Moose tries to salvage his relationship with his best friend Camille (the lovely Alyson Stoner from “SU1”). Their storyline proves to be the only one that’s the least bit relatable, not to mention wholly endearing. Camille is distressed that her longtime high school friend has grown increasingly distant ever since becoming preoccupied with his extracurricular activities. Moose is genuinely sorry about neglecting their time together, and decides to make up for it. In a scene guaranteed to put a happy face on even the most cynical audience member, Moose and Camille dance to “their song” (a remix of Fred Astaire’s “I Won’t Dance”) while frolicking down a city street, utilizing ordinary objects such as trash can lids to express their inner exuberance. This is the only moment in the film that truly recaptures the magic of indelible MGM musicals, particularly when Moose and Camille flip over a couch just like Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in “Singin’ in the Rain.” With his tireless energy and goofy grin, Sevani is a lightening rod of charisma who deserves to headline a vehicle of his own.

Step Up 3 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on Dec. 21, 2010.
Step Up 3 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on Dec. 21, 2010.
Photo credit: Touchstone Home Entertainment

“Step Up 3” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio), accompanied by English, Spanish and French audio tracks, and includes a DVD of the film. Among the extras is the “complete” 11-minute version of Luke’s “Born From a Boombox” documentary sampled at the beginning of the picture, which convinced me that a nonfiction film about street dancers would be an ideal premise for “Step Up 4.” Unfortunately, the extended version is basically a remix of footage from the film, along with some rehearsal footage and profiles of ensemble members (it’s difficult to determine how much of their personas are for real or for the cameras). More behind-the-scenes dance-offs can be found in a seven-minute featurette where Chu and producer Adam Shankman are seen getting jiggy with it. There are also some more whiplash-inducing performances of the hypnotic street dance style known as the “robot,” mastered in the film by Chadd Smith. Rounding out the disc is a full half hour of music videos that each hve a distinct flavor and personality (much like the dancers). An accompanying featurette visits the set of each video, including sound bites from artists such as Laza Morgan, Flo Rida, Sophie Fresh, T-Pain, Roscoe Dash, Sophia Del Carmen, Pitbull, Wisin y Yandell, Trey Songz and Jesse McCartney (who now looks like Willie Nelson, in comparison to Justin Bieber).


Yet the best special feature by far is a 23-minute collection of deleted scenes (introduced by Chu) which prove that some of the film’s best moments ended up on the cutting room floor. There’s an intriguing sequence where Jacob (Keith Stallworth) shares his experiences about growing up in Uganda, as the tattoos on his arm assist in illustrating his backstory. The animation is still in the form of sketches, but it hints at a more inventive approach to the material.

Too many scenes in the final cut center on dance scenes that exist simply for the sake of showing off. These cardboard characters could’ve resonated more if their stories were somehow dramatically conveyed through their dancing. It’s worth pondering how much better the film may have been if there were more scenes like the axed dance where the subtextual tension between Luke and Natalie is mirrored in their brooding Capoeira performance. With stronger stories and richer characters, this “Step Up” franchise could potentially become the hoofing version of “Glee.” Now if only it could find its Jane Lynch…

‘Step Up 3’ is released by Touchstone Home Entertainment and stars Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson Stoner, Keith Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard, Oren Michaeli, Joe Slaughter and Chadd Smith. It was written by Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer and directed by Jon Chu. It was released on Dec. 21st, 2010. It is rated PG-13.

HollywoodChicago.com staff writer Matt Fagerholm

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
matt@hollywoodchicago.com

movieman's picture

great movie and all the

great movie and all the better on blu ray

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