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MOVIES / ON DVD / HOW SHE MOVE
How She Move

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How She Move (2008)

66%
75%
45%
N/A
N/A
N/A
66 %
Reviews Counted: 70 Fresh: 46  Rotten:24 Average Rating: 5.9/10
 
Consensus: Despite a formulaic plot, the energetic and gritty How She Move is elevated by a commanding debut performance by Rutina Wesley.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Rated: 12A

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Theatrical Release: 04-04-2008

Synopsis: Much like STOMP THE YARD and STEP UP, HOW SHE MOVE showcases the hypnotic choreography and mind-blowing talent that make step dancing such a popular part of youth culture. In her film debut, Rutina Wesley portrays Raya Green, a high school student hailing from the projects. Her intelligence... Much like STOMP THE YARD and STEP UP, HOW SHE MOVE showcases the hypnotic choreography and mind-blowing talent that make step dancing such a popular part of youth culture. In her film debut, Rutina Wesley portrays Raya Green, a high school student hailing from the projects. Her intelligence and drive bring her to a prestigious private school, but she is forced back home after her sister's death from a drug addiction soaks up the last of Raya's tuition fund. With her parents working round the clock to make ends meet, Raya finds herself gravitating to her former friends from the neighborhood. She rekindles her passion for dancing, and gets involved with the local step dancing teams as they compete their way toward big money prizes. Realizing this is a second shot out of the projects, she gives dancing everything: all the intensity, fear, and pride she has welled up inside her. HOW SHE MOVE effectively deals with some sensitive issues--drugs, poverty, and death--through the perspective of urban kids on the brink of adulthood. Though it's easy to get caught up in the dancing and fierce competition, other heartfelt messages trickle through as well, including the importance of family, community and culture. With an impressive soundtrack and fantastic acting performances, HOW SHE MOVE will truly entertain as well as inspire. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Rutina Wesley, Brennan Gademans, Cle Bennett, Tre Armstrong, Kevin Duhaney

Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid
Screenwriter: Annmarie Morais
Producer: Jennifer Kawaja, Julia Sereny, Brent Barclay
Composer: Andrew Lockington

DVD Info

Release:

May 4, 2010

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 - English, Spanish
  • Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Featurette - 1. THE CHARACTERS OF HOW SHE MOVE
  • 2. HOW SHE MOVE - FROM REHEARSAL TO FILM
  • 3. HOW SHE MOVE - TELLING HER STORY
  • Trailers - Theatrical Trailer

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/08/08
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/5

The dance scenes are fun to watch but the script's not too light on its feet.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/06/08
Tony Horkins
Empire Magazine
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Ratings Image
1/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
04/03/08
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
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1.5/5

It's actually fairly impressive how many cliches the screenwriter can squeeze into the script.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/11/08
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
2/4

The formula is so old that you can almost forgive it. What I couldn't forgive is the soap opera/O.C.-like subplots.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/04/08
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine
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4/10

...has little new going for it beyond a boatload of energy and enthusiasm. And pure formula.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/22/08
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
Ratings Image
N/A

Thumbing its nose at music video ho's as sex wallpaper, How She Move's got muscular gritty girl power, as females challenge the greater strength and energy of the male performers on their own turf.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/19/08
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/11/08
Sydney Morning Herald
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Ratings Image
N/A

With its trite story the film is never going to impress the average critic, but there is energy and passion that make the film work for its target audience, and the choreography is inventive.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/05/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/03/08
Boxoffice Magazine
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2.5/4

The screenplay saddles the characters with too many scenes revolving around tired dialogue, but director Ian Iqbal Rashid compensates by staging the vigorous dance sequences as if his life -- or at least his career -- depended on it.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/16/08
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
Ratings Image
N/A

How She Move is as lazy about its good intentions as most of the other recent dance dramas that may vaguely come to mind.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/29/08
Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper
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3/4

Newcomer Rutina Wesley brings dynamite physicality and haunted intellect to How She Move.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/25/08
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
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3.5/4

Where, oh where, did this beautiful film come from?

Full Review | comment Comment
02/24/08
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
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3/5

...any misgivings get swept aside whenever the dancing starts, and fortunately, it doesn't stop for long.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
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7/10

The film does the right things well enough that it's a satisfying, if hardly earth-shattering experience.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/30/08
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
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C

When they dance, the effect isn't exuberant release -- every cartilage-crushing stomp-clap gets more and more furious. This is cheerleading in hell.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/29/08
Amy Nicholson
L.A. Weekly
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N/A

How She Move was shot on the cheap in 16-mm. film, and some of it is a little drab-looking, but it has energy and bravado.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/28/08
David Denby
New Yorker
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2/4

In its re-edit, Paramount tries to hide the cultural specificity that makes the movie interesting beneath generic 'urban' camouflage.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/28/08
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Ratings Image
B-

The thin and predictable plot benefits from likable performances by Wesley, Armstrong, and the rest of the cast, from some distinctive detail about the Caribbean immigrant population and their community, and from some smokin' dance moves.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/27/08
Nell Minow
Beliefnet
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