DVD Review: "Step Up 2" & College Road Trip
We sat down and watched the new DVDs for the dance movie sequel Step Up 2 the Streets and the Raven Symone/Martin Lawrence comedy College Road Trip and checked out the extras. The verdict? This duo makes for an interesting double feature when viewed from your bed or couch. You can hop up and bust a move with some of the best dance crews going then be the judge of Raven's adventures with an over-protective dad, the family's pet pig...and Donny Osmond!
From Touchstone Home Entertainment
Step Up 2 the Streets
Dance shows rule the airwaves so why not enjoy one with a cool story and some romance? In "Step Up 2", after her mom dies, street dancer Andie (Briana Evigan) is living in a Baltimore hood with her dance crew. She's barely home, ditches school and gets told by her guardian to shape up or move out. With encouragement from Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum from the first film) she tries out for the Maryland School of the Arts and is admitted but basically snubbed. Hottie Chase (Robert Hoffman) supports her, is crushin' and wants to learn her dance style. After some bad blood moments with her former crew who think she's gone too uptown, Andie helps form a new dance crew made up of some supposed losers from school who turn out, of course to impress.
Video/Audio: A lot of this film takes place on dark streets, dark dance studios etc. As such it doesn't "pop" as much as I'd like but it's completely watchable. The Dolby 5.1 audio really bounces the soundtrack with some good balance and good bass tones. Some of the dialogue, however, was kind of hard to hear.
Special Features: This "Dance-Off Edition" features 5 music videos including "Low" by Flo Rida and T-Pain and more from Missy Elliott, Jung Joc, Akon etc. Pretty awesome. There are eight "Deleted Scenes" to watch with or without director Jon Chu's commentary. Two are complete dance numbers with West Coast Riders and Jabbawockeez. You get Sophie (Cassie Ventura) singing "Is It You?" over scenes from the movie and some others deal with an omitted subplot involving Moose, Andie and Sophie. A nice watch, adding some extra fun to the DVD.
"Through Fresh Eyes: The Making of Step Up 2" is Chu's video diary but also includes cast member interviews, the choreographers, filmmakers. Even Chu's mom and dad put in their two cents. Chu reveals how he scanned the web for new dance styles. Hoffman talks about how hard it was to dance in the big rain scene.. the water added at least ten pounds to each dancer! A pretty nice "making of" piece.
In "Outlaws of Hip Hop: Meet the 410" we zero in on some of the talented dancers that made up the street crew. Hi-Hat, the film's tough choreographer, talks about her own challenges. Basically a cool celebration of street dance.
There is a "Robert Hoffman Video Prank" that takes place at a convenience store. Not sure if it's staged or real but it's pretty funny.
We found a couple of surprise hidden Easter Eggs; one of Chu's phone call telling Briana she got the role. Go to the Bonus Features screen, "Main Menu" and, at the bottom, click and some bowling pins appear. On screen two of the "Deleted Scenes" menu you highlight Jabbawockeez" and click left for more pins and a short clip of Robert Hoffman watching some backup dancers.
Wrapping Up: This movie is full of radical dance energy. I would like to have the camera stay still and just let us see all the dance moves in detail instead of whipping around but then that's like watching a stage show and not a movie. Overall, the actors are enthusiastic, dance moves a lot of fun and the story, albeit nothing new, winning and full of heartfelt, positive messages. At least due a rent or a buy especially if you are into dance films.
From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
College Road Trip
Oh the horror! You and your BFF's are ready for a cut-loose, party-packed road trip to check out colleges and your uptight policeman dad decides to drive you! This is the set-up for feisty, university-bound Raven-Symone in the comedy College Road Trip.
Police chief dad James Porter (Martin Lawrence) wants his daughter Melanie (Raven-Symone) to go to Northwestern which is very close to home. She favors Georgetown. Dad is such an overprotective control freak that he insists on driving Melanie and her buds on their road trip and mishaps abound; the family pet pig ends up going along and wrecking a wedding, dad wrecks the car and later sneaks into a sorority house to spy on his daughter (kinda creepy), the trippers meet a totally annoying preppy Donny Osmond and his whitebread daughter who won't stop singing obnoxious songs etc. Finally, with almost no time left for Melanie to make her appointment at Georgetown, dad sees the light and the duo actually sky-dives onto campus just in time.
Video/Audio: The film transfer of this recent movie looks bright, sharp and colorful. No complaints. The Dolby 5.1 sound is a good, well-mixed balance in which songs, ambient noises and dialogue are equally well-produced.
Special Features: You get two commentary tracks; one with Raven and director Roger Kimble.. mostly it seems to be Roger relaying some behind-the-scenes stories. Okay but not a "must". On the other track, two of the several writers Carrie Evans and Emi Mochizuki point out how the story moves and crack up at a few of the jokes. Not all that great. Did they even like how the movie came out?
"Raven's Video Diary" is supposed to be Raven video-ing the cast and crew behind-the scenes but this looks more like the usual selling press kit stuff. Not as good or "telling" as you would like. There are ten "Deleted Scenes" that add more comedy and character development and some different beginnings and ends. Interesting at least.
The "College Road Trip Gag Reel" is the usual goof ups and line screw-ups. Kinda cute. You get a music video for "Double Dutch Bus" Raven's version of an older song. She's singing inside a tour bus filled with Oriental tourists.. very campy and kinda strange. You see some clips from the film as well. "On the Set: Double Dutch Bus" is more of a look at filming the music video. Donny Osmond talks about his role etc. Okay.
Wrapping Up: I'm not sure what fans of Raven as a Cheetah Girl or of her in her "That's So Raven" TV show will think of the actress/singer in this rather lame comedy. Sure, there are a few funny moments and you might identify with a teen having an overprotective butt-in-ski dad but the jokes are forced, dad is not that lovable and so much of the film is just plain silly! If you love Raven and other Disney Channel faves who appear in the movie (Lucas Grabeel and Brenda Song) or Donny Osmond, you'll still get a kick out of the film. For Raven fans, worth a rent but a buy would be only for the most fanatic!
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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.
