"Step Up" DVD Review

A cut above the normal romantic teen movie, "Step Up" is an appealing dance film starring Channing Tatum as the guy from the wrong side of the tracks and Jenna Dewan as the superstar dancer who needs his help. Of course the two are going to fall in love, but how they get to that point is an entertaining mix of music, dance, and decent acting.

You may think "Step Up" is a remake of the 2001 dance film "Save the Last Dance" but you'd be wrong. "Step Up" is more like the older and better big brother of that film, although both were written by the same screenwriter (Duane Adler).

"Step Up" follows a hunky and talented young man named Tyler Gage (Tatum) who has to serve community service at a performing arts school after getting into trouble with his buddies. Sweeping up around school, Tyler finds himself drawn to Nora (Dewan), a beautiful and talented dancer who just happens to need a partner in order to compete. Tyler steps in and the new twosome set the dance floor on fire while also igniting a little flame of passion off the floor as well.

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I'm not normally a fan of commentary tracks that feature more than two people talking about the film, but the track on "Step Up" is actually very entertaining. Stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan team up with director Anne Fletcher and choreographer Jamal Sims for a commentary track that's more fun than enlightening - but definitely worth checking out.