Step Up 3D is a dance movie with all the right moves. It knows what it is and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Its plot is skimpy to say the least and its love story is just a contrivance but when you put these together with some hot, energetic dance numbers you have an audience pleaser.
The basic plot concerns two dance groups who do battle on the dance floor at the "World Dance Competition." The prize money is over a hundred thousand and Luke (Rick Malambri) needs it to pay off the debt on the loft where his group lives and rehearses. The opposing team is led by Julien (Joe Slaughter) who is as ruthless as they come and he will do anything and everything to defeat Rick.
One night a young woman named Natalie (Sharni Vinson) drops into a club Luke runs. She has the right moves and he impulsively asks her to join his group. Of course they soon fall in love, but you already knew that, right?
There is a subplot about an eighteen year old kid named Moose (Adam G Sevani) who comes to New York to study engineering in college. He is accompanied by his best friend Camille (Alyson Stoner). She gets into the college scene but Moose is discovered by Luke and is soon spending most of his time dancing. This causes problems with Camille as she feels he is neglecting her, and his studies.
The magic of the movie is in the dance numbers. In 3D they literally fly off the screen. There is such a high degree of energy and of movement that anyone who enjoys dancing or watching dancing will be fascinated. So if all the fans of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars" buy tickets the movie will be a success.
Most male viewers will claim Vinson is the big find of the film, but females will claim it is Malambri. Vinson is beautiful and knows how to project vulnerability. Plus the girl can dance. There is a tango scene inserted in the middle of the movie (go figure) in which she and Malambri dance together. It is hot!
To me Malambri was the most awkward of the leads. Everyone else appears to be a natural dancer but his moves are a little too rehearsed, except for that tango. Sevani and Stoner have a great number they perform to "I Won't Dance" which is a perfect way to highlight their talent.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and mild violence.
If you like dance numbers with a solid musical background, as well as a sense of energy that literally leaps off the screen then you are going to want to go see Step Up 3D. It is a dance movie through and through. That is all it claims to be and in this instance that is enough.
I scored Step Up 3D a move right 6 out of 10.