Synopsis

He’s a defiant rebel from the wrong side of Baltimore’s tracks. She’s a privileged dancer from an elite performing arts school. Their worlds couldn’t be more different but when their fates collide, the sparks fly. Tyler Gage has spent all his life on the rough streets of the city and he knows he’s unlikely to ever make it out of there. After a brush with the law lands Tyler with a community service gig at the city’s Maryland School of the Arts, everything changes. That’s when he meets Nora, the Arts school's prima ballerina, an alluring diva desperately searching for someone to replace her injured partner for the school’s all-important Senior Showcase. Spying Tyler’s moves, Nora can’t help but notice he’s got a raw but natural gift, so she offers him a tryout. He's confident and strong. Her mother disapproves. Her principal isn't sure. Tyler's street friends aren't impressed.

What The Critics Say

"Step Up is just what is sounds like: A dance movie, based on a formula that goes back decades..centuries, even. But its good nature, chemistry between its leads, and, let's face it, enjoyable dance numbers make it entertaining." Linda Cook QUAD CITY TIMES DAVENPORT "Two Movie Chicks definitely disagree. One thought it had plenty of humor and tons of great dancing; the other thought it missed a couple of steps." Cherryl and Leigh Ann THEMOVIECHICKS "By the numbers, teen-dance romance that takes it's lead from , and numerous others that it shamelessly imitates." Pete Hammond MAXIM "Step Up is light on its feet but stumbles badly once it leaves the dance floor." Loey Lockerby KANSA CITY STAR "As a routine and predictable romantic dance movie, this one unfolds exactly as you would expect. But the hip-hop dance moves are explosive." Bruce Kirkland JAM! MOVIES

"A movie I thought I would hate I ended up liking a lot. Ninety-seven minutes of looking at gorgeous Jenna Dewan gave me a glimpse of what paradise might be like." Tony Medley TONYMEDLEY.COM "Go for the impressive moves. Tolerate the mediocre story." Bob Strauss LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS "The dancing is energetic and skillful, and the predictable, hackneyed plot is benign." Eric D Snider ERICDSNIDER.COM "Whenever Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan and the rest of the spry young cast start moving, the film springs to life, and when they start talking, "Step Up" collapses in a heap, like a dancer's discarded sweatshirt." James Sanford KALAMAZOO GAZETTE "Anne Fletcher, choreographer on Bring It On, moved into the director's chair for this teen-centred dance romance that's light on its feet when there's dancing, but not so graceful in the cliche-ridden story department. 3 STARS." Des Partridge THE COURIER MAIL

The Inside Story On the heels of executive producing the box-office smash hit "Mr And Mrs Smith",” producer Erik Feig wanted to make the kind of classic, music-driven, character-focused movie that he and his friends had found so mesmerizing while growing up. Having been inspired by such entertainments as "Saturday Night Fever", "Fame" and "Dirty Dancing", and moved by recent films that ventured realistically into the hip-hop world such as "8 Mile" and "Save The Last Dance", Feig felt it was time to bring back the genre with a fresh, gritty take inspired by today’s youth issues and styles. "This is an idea that I’d been thinking about for many years," says Feig. "I remember that era when great music-oriented movies were not just aimed at girls but had a guy’s point of view, too, and that really interested me. There’s something so universal in the love of music, and I wanted to make a movie that would appeal to everyone, as much to men as to women. That’s why I liked the idea of setting "Step Up" around a scrappy underdog who finds an unlikely dream and gives it his all to make it happen." Fieg and his producing partner Patrick Wachsberger went in search of a director. They were in luck when the ran into renowned choreographer, director and producer Adam Shankman at his local gym. Shankman knew just the person the guys from Summit Entertainment needed. That person was Anne Fletcher, one of the contemporary film world’s leading choreographers. "I've worked with Anne since 1990 and we were dancers together for Paula Abdul on the Oscars ®. She has been one of my best friends and was my assistant when I was still a choreographer," Shankman explained. "“When I started directing movies, she sort of took over my choreography career. Then, she absolutely exploded artistically. When Erik told me about "Step Up", I knew it would be perfect for Anne because it she has always been incredibly strong with actors, she’s deeply passionate and most of all, she’s a really good storyteller." When Fletcher won over the team from Summit, Shankman came on board as a producer, bringing with him his producing partner and sister, Jennifer Gibgot. Gibgot, who has danced all her life, fell in love with the story’s mix of music, romance and explosive cultural tension, and made a catalytic suggestion: to turn the story, then focused on a young musician, into a dance film. The final decision to do so was made in part because she felt it was important to draw upon Fletcher’s incredible knowledge of and enthusiasm for the world of dance. "I think love and dance will always be a winning combination," she observes. "But this story also has a really modern, raw feel. It's a morality tale, a movie about a kid versus the streets, about a kid who has only one chance at a long-shot dream. I think it’s a story that appeals to both young and old because it’s about having hope and finding the strength to dig yourself out from the hole that you're in." Next on board was screenwriter Duane Adler, who made his debut with the teen hit "Save The Last Dance". That brought onboard screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, who the filmmakers sought out because of the hip, current style she had honed on the extremely popular TV series, "The O.C". The lead male character in "Step Up" is Tyler. Adler says "he related intensely to Tyler’s struggles to make it. I always saw Tyler as someone who is very gifted but faces an uphill battle. The new world of Maryland School of the Arts school becomes his salvation, but first he has to prove himself and he also has to wrestle with his feelings of loyalty to his old friends and his old way of life, while realizing at any moment he could lose it all. That’s what makes him such a moving character to me." In fact, Tyler, reflects Adlers growing years. "My family moved a lot when I was a kid and I personally attended six different high schools as a teenager," he explains. “While I wasn't a foster child like Tyler, I certainly felt misplaced and it was my discovery of the arts as a junior in high school that in many ways changed my life." Rosenberg, who majored in dance in college and danced with a small troupe before becoming a writer says. "This film was an amazing experience. It was finally a chance to dance again, on the page if not on the floor." For director Anne Fletcher, the search for the right cast would be a major one. Fletcher had decided there would be no doubles or voice-overs for even a single shot. "We were so lucky because I think there is an astonishing amount of talent on display in "Step Up". These kids are the real deal and there’s no smoke and mirrors. It’s what I always aimed for," Fletcher notes. "Everyone does their own dancing and singing, so the characters feel very real and you never have to cut away from what’s happening emotionally to switch to a double. I'm excited that I succeeded in that. Finding Channing Tatum was our biggest coup, followed by finding Jenna, who is an unbelievable dancer as well as being gorgeous. Most of all, there is real magic and chemistry between them that makes the story work." The hunt for a cast started with Tyler. "That character is so complex on the page," says Erik Feig, "we knew it would be a challenge to find someone with all those qualities. We needed someone who would be charismatic yet troubled; tough but likeable; hard-edged but romantic; and an untrained yet amazing dancer. It was a lot to hope for." They found their Tyler when Channing Tatum walked in for an audition. "Trying to force someone into the Tyler character would have been disastrous. We needed someone who you feel has too much passion, too much electricity to control, and that is who Channing is," Adam Shankman said. "He's also quite possibly one of the best natural street dancers I've ever seen in my life. He just has so much texture in his being." Next character on the list was that of Nora. "Once we cast Channing and realized what an amazing dancer he was, the bar became extremely high for whoever would play Nora," notes Feig. "We had to search that much harder." After lengthy auditions the role went to Jenna Dewan. Dewan, who has been dancing since the age of five recalls, "I was so drawn to Nora because it really couldn't be written any more like me as a 15 year-old. I was Nora. "I was a true diehard about dancing. That was all I ever really wanted to do. I had that same passion, and I really didn't know what would happen if I couldn't go and pursue it." Filming in Baltimore was a bonus for the actress. "I started to dance in Baltimore, and it’s where I first started doing some acting. It couldn’t have been a more exciting setting for this story." Also cast in the film is Australian actress and Academy Award® nominee, Rachel GriffithsRachel Griffith who plays the Arts School Principal. "I was drawn to the film because I thought it would be great to be in such a youthful, vibrant, hopeful environment," says the actress. “Plus I was a huge ‘Fame’ fan. There’s something so wonderful about people at the beginning of their lives. It’s not that there isn’t pain or struggle but there’s also this beautiful, sexy optimism and I wanted to be around that." Director Anne Fletcher says she was thrilled to have someone of the caliber of Griffith cast in a key role. "We talked about who the character was and where we wanted to go with her, and then Rachel went off and created something fantastic," Fletcher remarks. "As such a skilled actress, she was very exciting to work with." The Verdict "When the dance routines hot up and the soundtrack cranks up, "Step Up" steps up to the plate. But when the dialogue starts it's three strikes and "Step Up" is out. The cast standouts are Mario (looking like a young Chris Rock but performing heaps better), Deirdre Lovejoy as the mom who wants only success for her daughter and Jenna Dewan who, while not looking like your average dancer, manages to hold together some excellent dance sequences. "Step Up" would have been a much better film to watch if they'd cast someone a little more animated than Channing Tatum in the lead male role and, if the screenwriters had worked harder on the dialogue, which is lack lustre. Never the less, if you like modern dance films, a feel good ending and you're under twenty three, "Step Up" will probably give you just enough value for your movie bucks. A little predictable, but those dance segments and a 'feel good' ending ensure "Step Up" is worthy of a 3 STAR rating." Cast & Crew Bytes "STEP UP" stars .......
Channing Tatum ["Coach Carter", "Supercross" and "She's the Man"]; Damaine Radcliff ["Glory Road"]; Jenna Dewan ["Waterborne", "Tamara" and "Take the Lead"]; Mario ["Destination Fame"]; Deirdre Lovejoy ["Sour Grapes", "Random Hearts", "My Sister's Wedding" and "13 Conversations"], Rachel Griffiths ["Very Annie Mary", "The Hard Word", "Ned Kelly" and "Angel"] and De'Shawn Washington ["Step Up"] as Skinny Carter.
"STEP UP" was .......
directed by Anne Fletcher [who appeared in "Boogie Nights", "Titanic", "Monkeybone" and "A Walk to Remember"]; screenplay by Duane Adler ["Save The Last Dance"] and Melissa Rosenberg [TV'S "Party of Five", "Dr Quinn Medicine Woman", "The Magnificent Seven" and "The O.C."]; cinematography by Michael Seresin ["Midnight Express", "Angela's Ashes", "Domestic Disturbance" and "The Life of David Gale"]; original music by Aaron Zigman ["John Q", "The Notebook", "Raise Your Voice" and "Take the Lead"] edited by Nancy Richardson ["Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown"] with costume design by Alix Hester ["American Beauty", "One Hour Photo", "The Terminal" and "Wedding Crashers"]. Run Time 103 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - Touchstone Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2006 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved