Another week, another urban dance movie from the United States.
How She Move (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:75
Fresh:50
Rotten:25
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: Despite a formulaic plot, the energetic and gritty How She Move is elevated by a commanding debut performance by Rutina Wesley.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for some drug content, suggestive material and language.
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Dramas
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... 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]
Starring: Rutina Wesley, Brennan Gademans, Cle Bennett, Tre Armstrong
Starring: Rutina Wesley, Brennan Gademans, Cle Bennett, Tre Armstrong, Kevin Duhaney, Shawn Desman, Dwain Murphy, Keyshia Cole, De Ray Davis
Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid
Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid
Screenwriter: Annmarie Morais
Producer: Jennifer Kawaja, Julia Sereny, Brent Barclay
Composer: Andrew Lockington
Studio: Paramount Vantage
Reviews for How She Move
It's a familiar set-up, but while the story falls back on clichés and trite moral messages, a few dance scenes deliver in spectacular style.
The dance scenes are fun to watch but the script's not too light on its feet.
Disappointing dance drama that suffers from a badly scripted plot, dull performances and poorly choreographed dance routines.
It's actually fairly impressive how many cliches the screenwriter can squeeze into the script.
The formula is so old that you can almost forgive it. What I couldn't forgive is the soap opera/O.C.-like subplots.
...has little new going for it beyond a boatload of energy and enthusiasm. And pure formula.
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.
The film does have great energy, and some fabulous dancing, but the script could have done with another draft.
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.
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.
How She Move is as lazy about its good intentions as most of the other recent dance dramas that may vaguely come to mind.
Newcomer Rutina Wesley brings dynamite physicality and haunted intellect to How She Move.
...any misgivings get swept aside whenever the dancing starts, and fortunately, it doesn't stop for long.
The film does the right things well enough that it's a satisfying, if hardly earth-shattering experience.
When they dance, the effect isn't exuberant release -- every cartilage-crushing stomp-clap gets more and more furious. This is cheerleading in hell.
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