Step Up 2: The Streets (Blu-ray) (2008)

"...suavely choreographed by Jamal Sims, Nadine "Hi Hat" Ruffin and Dave Scott.  Ella Taylor, LA Weekly
"The wall-to-wall soundtrack naturally features plenty of today's leading hip-hop and R&B artists...  Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter

Editor's Note Jon Chu directs this feel-good sequel about pursuing what you love and finding yourself along the way. Andie (Briana Evigan, daughter of actor Greg Evigan) is a tough Baltimore teen who grew up dancing and is now part of the 410, the hottest dance crew in the city and reigning champions of the Streets, an underground dance competition. Unable to control Andie's rebellious ways, her guardian, Sarah (Sonja Sohn), has decided to send her to Texas to live with her aunt. But Andie has one last chance to stay with her crew in her beloved Baltimore: the Maryland School of the Arts (MSA). Unfortunately, maintaining her studies at MSA means less time with the 410. To make matters worse, Andie is having a hard time fitting in at her new high school, where tradition is revered and being outside the box is frowned upon. Luckily, she has a partner in crime in classmate Chase Collins (Robert Hoffman), whose stuffy brother, Blake (Will Kemp), is the school's director and a constant thorn in his younger brother's side. When the 410 boots Andie out, she and Chase find their own crew of overlooked MSA dancers and take it all the way to the Streets. The real star of STEP UP 2: THE STREETS is the amazing dancing and there's plenty of it. From the opening scene in a Baltimore subway to the playground to studio rehearsals to the Streets, these kids give it everything they've got. Channing Tatum briefly reprises his role as Tyler Gage, who knows Andie from the neighborhood. All of the MSA and 410 dancers are exceedingly talented, but Mari Koda's few lines as Jenny Kido are scene-stealers.

	Telisha Shaw
	Adam G. Sevani
	Briana Evigan
	Robert Hoffman
	Will Kemp
	Cassie Ventura
	Meredith Milton - Executive Producer
	Channing Tatum - Cameo
	Anne Fletcher - Executive Producer
	Aaron Zigman - Composer
	Patrick Wachsberger - Producer
	Jennifer Gibgot - Producer
	Bob Hayward - Executive Producer
	Toni Ann Johnson - Screenwriter
	Max Malkin - Director of Photography
	Karen Barna - Screenwriter
	Erik Feig - Producer
	Adam Shankman - Producer
	David A. Nicksay - Executive Producer
	Jon M. Chu - Director

Los Angeles Times
"Chu shoots the movie every which way, heavy on the extreme telephoto imagery...he clearly loves his performers....[With] a choice soundtrack, spiced by the likes of Missy Elliott's 'Shake Your Pom Pom'..." 02/14/2008

Entertainment Weekly
"In a dance-off with the original, STEP UP 2 wins for that rain-soaked street routine alone." -- Grade: B 07/18/2008 p.48

Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his delivers where it counts, with stunning dance scenes..." 08/01/2008 p.152

ReelViews 6 of 10
With Step Up 2 the Streets, the supposed-but-not-really sequel to 2006's sleeper Step Up, you get what you pay for. That is to say, there are lots of energetic dance moves, throbbing music that uses every channel of the theater's digital sound system, and a good looking girl who looks even sexier slicked down by water. In fact, all this is almost enough to make one forget about the cardboard characters, trite storyline, feeble romance, and embarrassing sermonizing about everyone getting along together. But those who venture into theaters for Step Up 2 probably won't care about those things...There's not much more to say about Step Up 2 except that it works when the characters are dancing and it is borderline painful when they're not. Too much time is wasted attempting to give flat and lifeless characters backstories...Much of the average viewer's time in the theater will be spent waiting somewhat impatiently for the high-energy climax. Catnaps are an advisable way to survive some of the slow spots. Or, better yet, wait for this to be available on DVD when the fast forward button will turn Step Up 2 into something shorter and more enjoyable. - James Berardinelli