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Movies / On DVD / How She Move
How She Move

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How She Move (2008)

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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

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Reviews for How She Move

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Another week, another urban dance movie from the United States.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/08/08
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/06/08
Tony Horkins
Tony Horkins
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Disappointing dance drama that suffers from a badly scripted plot, dull performances and poorly choreographed dance routines.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
04/03/08
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

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

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment 1 Comment
02/11/08
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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 Source: Sin Magazine | comment Comment
06/04/08
Austin Kennedy
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

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

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
04/22/08
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

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 Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
04/19/08
Prairie Miller
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze

The film does have great energy, and some fabulous dancing, but the script could have done with another draft.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
04/11/08
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald

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 Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
04/05/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Seriously, it is nuts the way these kids dance.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
04/03/08
Tim Cogshell
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine

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 Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
03/16/08
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

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 Source: Let's Not Listen | comment Comment
02/29/08
Tricia Olszewski
Tricia Olszewski
Let's Not Listen

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

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

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

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

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

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

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

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

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 Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
01/29/08
Amy Nicholson
Amy Nicholson
L.A. Weekly

Urban dance drama is formulaic yet entertaining.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
01/29/08
S. Jhoanna Robledo
S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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