Blu-ray Review: Step Up 2 the Streets

Get down with the gettin' on down! Reeemixxx!

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Sunday, July 20th 2008 at 8:22 PM

It is fashionable to make fun of this film. If not for its ridiculous title, then for its awful plot line. However, there is a lot to like about Step Up 2 the Streets and I can honestly say I don't think I would ever turn it off if I happened to be channel surfing and came across it. This film may not have the strongest storyline, but it comes packed with a great soundtrack and well-timed dance routines making it easily watchable to the point that the story never wears you down.

Personally I don't think I can top my review from February (read it here) in terms of letting you in on my opinion of the film. I had a lot of fun with it and you can't really do anything more with a film like this than just do your best to have fun. The film never takes itself seriously and you shouldn't either. I gave it a "C+" because that's what it is, nothing more, nothing less than an above average good time. For the majority of folks this is definitely a film you won't buy. For dance fans it is a must own. Others, I can't see you watching this and hating life unless you simply have an urge for hatred in your heart.

After watching the film a second time, and strangely enjoying it just as much as I did the first time, the special features were a bit surprising. Sure, there is the average toss away garbage such as music videos, generic featurettes and the occasionally Easter Egg hidden here and there (although hearing Briana Evigan being notified she got the lead role was pretty cool to hear considering it is her first big film), but the deleted scenes actually bring something to the table. Usually mundane, the deleted scenes with introductions by director Jon Chu, show the young director was able to actually cut out two VERY cliché plotlines. These are cuts you wouldn't expect a director working on his first major film to be willing to make. One involves the typical "fight between friends so they can make up later" and the other involves the "inevitable back-stab". Both would have dragged the film down and most likely disrupted the balance Chu found between ridiculous plot and kick ass dance scenes. As is, it works, had these been introduced… not so sure.

There is definitely an audience for dance films as they consistently bank big dollars at the box-office: Step Up ($65 mil.), Honey ($30 mil.), You Got Served ($40 mil.) and this one at $58 million. You may think those numbers look small, but consider the likes of You Got Served was made for a mere $8 million and Step Up for $12 million, I think you understand my point. These are films made on the cheap and they bring in the dollars because they are simply 90 minutes of eye-candy and good music. Who isn't down for that every now and again?