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Step Up
Touchstone Pictures


7.8

based on 23 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 72 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic elements, brief violence and innuendo

Starring Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Rachel Griffiths, Damaine Radcliff, Drew Sidora, Josh Henderson, De'Shawn Washington, Mario, and Heavy D

Everyone deserves a chance to follow their dreams, but some people only get one shot. Tyler Gage is a rebel from the wrong side of Baltimore's tracks -- and the only thing that stands between him and an unfulfilled life are his dreams of one day making it out of there. Nora is a privileged ballet dancer attending Baltimore's ultra-elite Maryland School of the Arts -- and the only thing standing in the way of her obviously brilliant future is finding a great dance partner for her senior showcase. When trouble with the law lands Tyler with a community service gig at Maryland School of the Arts, he arrives as an angry outsider, until his skills as a gifted street dancer draw Nora's attention. Now, as sparks fly between them, both on and off stage, Tyler realizes he has just one performance to prove that he can step up to a life far larger than he ever imagined. (Touchstone Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Drama \| Musical \| Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Duane Adler (also story) Melissa Rosenberg
DIRECTED BY:	Anne Fletcher
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: December 19, 2006 Theatrical: August 11, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	98 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown

Step, under the sure hand of director-choreographer Anne Fletcher, quickly discovers its own virtuoso charms. Two of them are its leads.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Alive with infectious rhythm, likable characters, and slick dance moves, Step Up gives clichés a good name.

Variety Joe Leydon

Fresh cast, a formulaic but engaging storyline, and a smoking soundtrack from rap and hip-hop luminaries.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

The film may not be art, but it's got a beat and you can definitely dance to it.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Both Tatum and Dewan know how to move, and their co-stars (including musicians Mario and Drew Sidora) are equally gifted.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

The movie serves up a pleasant, if unsurprising, confluence of classic ballet with street dance, not to mention a seamless collusion of polite racial integration with savvy niche marketing.

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

The story is as old as Mickey Rooney but its appeal is eternal, and Step Up cleaves to the template with significantly more rigor than originality. For a director who is also a choreographer, Anne Fletcher is strangely reluctant to step out of line.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Step Up never quite does fly: its dance routines are low-voltage, the star chemistry is weak, the characters are clichés and the movie is practically an instant remake of Dewan's other '06 dance musical, "Take the Lead," which told the story better.

USA Today Scott Bowles

For a movie about dancing, Step Up is pretty clumsy on its feet.

Premiere Lauren Metz

It really never amounts to more than a barely warmed over rehash of teen dance flick moves.

Chicago Tribune Jessica Reaves

It's no accident that the credits for the movie are a Who's Who of dance movie alumni: Director Anne Fletcher choreographed "Bring It On"; screenwriter Duane Adler penned "Save The Last Dance"; and the movie was photographed by Michael Seresin, who shot "Fame."

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Tatum, the hunky object of Amanda Bynes's fancy in "She's the Man," and an engaging basketballer in "Coach Carter," is the best thing about this uninspired formula-thon.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

Once in a great while, a film of insight and wisdom defines a generation. Step Up is not that film. Instead, it's the sort of mildly entertaining movie that comes along a couple of times a year.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

While its sexy young lead performers and enjoyable dance sequences should provide some boxoffice enticement, this directorial debut from choreographer Anne Fletcher likely will score bigger on video.

New York Post Kyle Smith

The teen dance drama Step Up seems like it was not only inspired by a Janet Jackson video but entirely written during one.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Rather than cast actors who can't dance or dancers who can't act, Step Up splits the difference with stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, who pull double duty with uninspired competence.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason Anderson

Until the movie stumbles under the weight of its noble intentions and its tediously formulaic story, it delivers a few lively, well-shot dance sequences and some winning moments.

Village Voice Bill Gallo

Fletcher ably blends ballet and hip-hop, but the filming itself is often clumsy, and Tatum's relentless African American impersonation quickly wears out its welcome.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Any guy who sits through this date movie deserves to get to third base at least.

TV Guide Angel Cohn

This teen drama may be filled with some great-looking dancing, but its hackneyed, predictable script is a giant step in the wrong direction.

Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman

This could be a pilot for the WB. Hollywood choreographer Fletcher makes the jump behind the camera but displays a greater aplomb for staging than drama, and the movie is as fleeting as the last weekend of summer.

Film Threat Felix Vasques Jr.

Step Up doesn't want to be new, original, innovative, or fresh, and it makes a point of practicing that guideline at every chance.

San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein

The dreary teen drama Step Up appears to be cobbled together from bits and pieces of successful movies.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 72 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

kristie gave it a10:
BEST MOVIE EVER. channing tatumn is so HOT in it ;) the music was awsum and the dance moves were fkn mad!! if you didn't like the movie you dont have any taste in movies or music loved it.

Rach B. gave it a10:
Best film ever. The ballet bit at the beggining was incredible. I only hope that one day i can dance like that. It was incredible music, incredible dancing, and incredible muscles on channing's chest (oh yes!). I loved it.

Chad S. gave it a9:
I would give this movie a ten because it is based on the true story of...MY LIFE, but they left out my imaginary friend fred, the native american girl that gave me moral support through the hard times, so i give the movie a nine.

Kelly gave it a9:
Ok, it was predictable like all chick flicks but it was a great movie - Channing is the bomb he is as hot as any boy can be--he can move. Jenna is gorgeous and definetley knows how to dance. This movie really sucked me in being a dancer myself. I even bought the bloody thing.

Paul R. gave it a0:
This movie was complete and utter crap. The plot was insanely predictable and the acting made me want to shoot myself. I couldn't even finish this movie it was so bad.

Parker gave it a1:
If I hadn't seen this movie plot used fifty times already... it still would have sucked. Seriously, how can anyone watch this crap over and over again in different forms with different titles? 1/10.

Kristina G. gave it a10:
I thought this movie was great! The dancing was excellent, the actors had great chemistry, and it was a good story line.

Step Up Touchstone Pictures

Step Up
Touchstone Pictures