Step Up 2: The Streets

When life throws you curveballs, lemons, or closed doors, there's just one solution: Dance! Step Up 2 The Streets is a worthy entry into the inspirational dance-it-out film lexicon, with moves, choreography, and music that sometimes seem to defy even gravity. The spunky young heroine is Andie, played with sass and amazing dance talent by Briana Evigan (daughter of hardworking TV actor Greg Evigan). Andie is from one of Baltimore's grittiest neighborhoods, but her dance ability--forged in fire on the streets of Baltimore--lands her in a prestigious performing arts school, where she struggles to fit in even as her schoolmates are awed by her talent. With a nod to Love Story, our working-class heroine catches the eye of a privileged boy, Chase (Robert Hoffman), who's captivated by Andie's dance chops and genuine heart. Andie's fierce sense of self helps ground the film. At one point she lectures Chase, "Look, the streets is about where you're from. It's not some school talent show. There's no spring floors. There's no spotlights!" But the true star of the film is its amazing dance sequences and the talented cast works the moves for all they're worth. The supercharged soundtrack features Plies (with Akon) and a couple of excellent Missy Elliott tracks. Ready? Hit it! --A.T. Hurley

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