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"STEP UP 2 THE STREETS" (2008) (Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Minor Heavy Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None None Moderate Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Mild Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: A young woman finds herself torn between her new friends at a prestigious performing arts school and the street-based dance crew she considers as her only family. PLOT: Andie West (BRIANA EVIGAN) is a Baltimore City high school student who feels her only family is that of a street dance crew known as the 410. Following her mother's untimely death, Andie has lived with her mom's best friend, Sarah (SONJA SOHN), but that hasn't been going well, what with the teen skipping school and staying out all night hanging with her friends, Missy (DANIELLE POLANCO) and Felicia (TELISHA SHAW), and the 410's leader, Tuck (BLACK THOMAS). Things are so bad that Sarah is planning on sending Andie to live with her aunt in Texas, but a successful childhood friend convinces Andie that she should audition to gain admittance to the Maryland School of Arts. A prestigious institution, it's run by former professional dancer Blake Collins (WILL KEMP) whose younger brother, Chase (ROBERT HOFFMAN), is one of the star pupils. It's the latter who sees something in Andie and convinces the board to admit her. However, the brash teen isn't exactly pleased to have her unlikely benefactor seemingly putting the moves on her, which also holds true for his ex-girlfriend and fellow student, Sophie (CASSIE VENTURA), and after school know-it-all Moose (ADAM G. SEVANI) informs Andie of Chase's reputation as a "player." Andie tries to balance her new school and rehearsals with the 410, but when the former interferes with the latter, Tuck kicks her out of the crew. Accordingly, and desirous of gaining some street "cred," Chase convinces Andie that they should form their own dance crew to compete in an unsanctioned, underground tournament known as The Streets. As they put together a ragtag group of dancers and prepare for the big competition, the two must contend with their growing affection for each other, the adverse reaction of Tuck and his 410 minions, as well as Blake not being pleased with this new extracurricular activity. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the first "Step Up" film or dance movies in general, they probably will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For language, some suggestive material and brief violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: BRIANA EVIGAN plays a brash teenage street dancer who feels her only family is that with her friends in the 410 crew, and thus skips school and stays out all night. In order to avoid being shipped off to live with her aunt in another state, she agrees to audition for the performing arts school, but doesn't initially take it seriously when she's accepted. From that point on, she must contend with her former friends' reaction to her new ones at school and vice-versa. She uses some profanity and often wears midriff and/or cleavage revealing outfits. ROBERT HOFFMAN plays a star dancer at the school with a reputation for being a "player" but who finds himself falling for Andie. Bucking his older brother's views, he decides to join forces with Andie in forming their own street dance crew. WILL KEMP plays his older, egotistical brother, a former dancer who runs the school, reluctantly allows Andie to be admitted, and then has second thoughts about that after he sees the effect she has on the institution and others enrolled there. ADAM G. SEVANI plays a student lighting designer at the school, a self-proclaimed know-it-all who befriends Andie, gets her up to speed there, and then joins her and Chase in their street dance crew. DANIELLE POLANCO plays Andie's street dancer friend who initially has a falling out with her when she starts going to the school, but then comes around and helps her, Chase and their crew. TELISHA SHAW plays their other friend who doesn't have the same change of heart and thus acts meanly toward her former friend. BLACK THOMAS plays the intense leader of the 410 street dance crew who doesn't cut anyone any slack and thus kicks Andie out when she's late for their rehearsals. CASSIE VENTURA plays Chase's ex-girlfriend, a triple artistic threat at the school who isn't pleased to see the attention he's now paying to Andie. SONJA SOHN plays Andie's late mom's best friend who agreed to care for the teen, but isn't pleased with her attitude or behavior, and thus threatens to ship her out of state to live with the girl's aunt. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 1 modified version of the "f" word, a possible "s" word (in a song lyric) and other expletives, while colorful phrases, sexually related song lyrics and non-explicit dialogue are also present. Various buff young men are seen shirtless, and various young women are seen in revealing attire (cleavage, bare midriffs, etc.), while some sexually related dance moves are on display, and there's brief kissing. A brief scene has three men beating up another man (punching and kicking), and they and others have bad attitudes (including vandalizing a dance studio - we only see the aftermath). Some of the behavior on display (dance moves, revealing attire, body piercings, etc.) might be enticing for some kids to imitate. There's brief drinking, and some family tension between a teen and her surrogate mom (the teen's mom is noted as having died in the girl's past). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some handheld camera footage in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE People drink at a club. People have drinks in a club. People have drinks at the school's fundraiser. BLOOD/GORE Chase has a slightly bruised face after Tuck and two other guys beat him up. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The 410 dance crew does guerilla style dance exhibitions, thus creating a public disturbance, and they flee from the police when the latter are called in. We hear that Andie has been skipping school and staying out all night, thus disrespecting Sarah with whom she lives. As a result, Sarah threatens to send the teen out of state to live with the girl's aunt. Blake is conceited and pompous, claiming he can take any amateur and turn them into a professional dancer. Despite them having previously broken up, Sophie is jealous of Chase being interested in Andie. Despite him being the reason she was admitted to the school, Andie isn't always nice to Chase, and he snaps at her after having a bad day at school (but later apologizes). Tuck is always in Andie's business, is mad at her for being late to rehearsals (due to being in school), and then kicks her out of his street dance crew. The film goes for some jokes stemming from an Asian student's thick accent (played lightly). A dance competitor shoves Moose backwards. Tuck and others in his crew have a bad attitude toward Andie, Chase and their new dance crew. That includes Missy (although she later has a change of heart), and particularly Felicia. Tuck asks why his "crib" smells like Fusions, broccoli and "ball sweat," and we later learn/see that Chase secretly placed a dead fish in the house vent. Tuck and two other guys confront and encircle Chase, threatening him. Chase punches Tuck, but he and the two goons then proceed to punch and kick Chase repeatedly, with one spitting on him at the end (and we later see Chase with a bruised face from that attack). While we don't see the act, we see the aftermath of Tuck's crew having trashed the school's dance studio. Graffiti has been spray painted onto the now partially broken wall mirrors, and things are overturned, etc. FRIGHTENING SCENES A suspicious looking character gets on a subway train, dons a mask, and we and those onboard the train think something bad is going to happen. But it turns out to be one of many 410 street dance crew members who do performance art (dancing) on the train. Tuck and two other guys confront and encircle Chase, threatening him. Chase punches Tuck, but he and the two goons then proceed to punch and kick Chase repeatedly, with one spitting on him at the end (and we later see Chase with a bruised face from that attack). GUNS/WEAPONS We hear what sounds like gunfire in a video game Tuck is playing (not seen). Some presumably fake swords are briefly used in a play at school. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You got t*tties," "We bouncin,'" "You were a pain in my ass," "She's flipping out, "Chill out," "Your little ass," "Holy hell," "You've got crap on your face" (not meant literally), "Hooking up," "Pretty serious balls," "You're right, he's an ass," "I'm over here looking like an ass," "That's messed up," "Losers," "What in the hell was that?" "We looked like idiots," "Why does my crib smell like Funions, broccoli and ball sweat?" "Tuck you" (seen written), "You're pimping me out," "Clown," "Sucks," "You want to tell me what the hell is going on?" and "Damn right I dance." The various dance moves (including sexually related ones listed under "Sex/Nudity"), attire (midriff-revealing, etc.) and body fashion accessories (tattoos, facial piercings [nose, lip], etc.) might be enticing for some kids to imitate. We see a 410 crewmember sliding down the center metal piece between escalators. We see miscellaneous graffiti, and later that done by the 410 crew (but we don't see the act). Andie often wears midriff and/or cleavage revealing tops. Various guys playfully show their taut abs by pulling up their shirts, followed by the girls doing the same (no breasts are seen). Tuck asks why his "crib" smells like Funions, broccoli and "ball sweat," and we later learn/see that Chase secretly placed a dead fish in the house vent. Andie and Chase's crew do all sorts of mocking things behind the backs of Tuck's crew (as seen on video, including acting like store mannequins, and Chase having the phrase "Tuck You" written on his belly). We see mock video footage of Moose in a bra, with one other guy playfully looking at his clothed butt (as if he's a woman). While we don't see the act, we see the aftermath of Tuck's crew having trashed the school's dance studio. Graffiti has been spray painted onto the now partially broken wall mirrors, and things are overturned, etc. One dancer runs toward a wall, jumps and hits it with his feet, and then does a back-flip off that. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Various songs had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing something objectionable. A song may have at least 1 use of the "s" word in it. A song has lyrics about "shake it like a pompom" and "booty" shaking like an earthquake and that being "in your face." A song has the lyric "do the humpty hump" and something about still getting in the girl's or girls pants. PROFANITY At least 1 modified version of the "f" word (the written phrase "Tuck you"), 1 possible "s" word (in a song), 1 possible slang term for sex ("hooking up"), 1 for breasts ("t*tties"), 6 asses, 4 hells, 2 damns, 1 crap," 4 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "God" and "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Some songs have sexually related lyrics. See that category for more information. Andie often wears midriff and/or cleavage revealing tops. We see the buff Tuck shirtless as he changes shirts. Missy shows cleavage in several scenes. Moose says he can tell her everything that's occurring at the school, including who's "hooking up." He then comments on Chase being a ladies man, with Andie asking if Chase is a "player." We see a performance photo of Blake in a dance pose, shirtless. Chase does a dance move where he mocks lifting himself up by his clothed crotch. Andie sticks out her clothed butt and quickly bounces it around as part of a dance move. We see a female dancer in a sports bra. We see Chase shirtless. Moose does some clothed pelvic thrusting while doing a dance move (including his hand at his crotch). We see some shirtless male basketball players. Andie does her butt sticking out dance move again. We see mock video footage of Moose in a bra, with one other guy playfully looking at his clothed butt (as if he's a woman). We see Andie in her bra as she changes clothes into a dress, the latter of which prompts Missy to state, "You got t*tties." One also jokingly says, "You're pimping me out." A male dancer does a pelvic thrust move. Andie and Chase nearly kiss while seated on a tree branch (but are interrupted). We see miscellaneous cleavage. Andie does a pelvic thrust and some other sexy moves while dancing (with her crew) in the rain at night in a midriff and cleavage revealing outfit. Andie and Chase passionately kiss while clothed and standing. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear voice over narration from Andie about her mom dying in the past and everything changing after that. Later, there's brief talk of Andie's mom having cancer (in the past). We hear that Andie has been skipping school and staying out all night, thus disrespecting Sarah with whom she lives. As a result, Sarah threatens to send the teen out of state to live with the girl's aunt. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Dancers and dancing. Dealing with peer pressure. Teens who act out by sporting bad attitudes. There's brief talk of Andie's mom having cancer (in the past). VIOLENCE A dance competitor shoves Moose backwards. Tuck and two other guys confront and encircle Chase, threatening him. Chase punches Tuck, but he and the two goons then proceed to punch and kick Chase repeatedly, with one spitting on him at the end (and we later see Chase with a bruised face from that attack). While we don't see the act, we see the aftermath of Tuck's crew having trashed the school's dance studio. Graffiti has been spray painted onto the now partially broken wall mirrors, and things are overturned, etc. Tuck grabs and pushes Chase. Reviewed February 11, 2008 / Posted February 14, 2008

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