how she move

I am a sucker for the dance movies. I am not proud of it, but I have seen them all from CENTER STAGE to STEP UP to TURNING POINT. Last weekend, I went to check out the most recent release, HOW SHE MOVE. Although the story is a familiar one, HOW SHE MOVE manages to keep things fresh, real, and incredibly moving. A girl has escaped the ghetto she grew up in, and gone to a private school, where her big dreams of getting into an Ivy League school are actually a reality. However, her funding is gone after her drug-addicted sister dies after yet another failed attempt at rehap. After failing the scholarship exam, Raya needs to find a way to make enough money to pay for her tuition. Conveniently, there is an upcoming step competition with the winner receiving $50,000. There is amazing dancing, good character development, and realism in every scene. The movie has the gritty feel of an indie film which only adds to that realistic feel. I got totally involved in this film, and was completely invested in the story. Yes, there are contrivances that you can't help but roll your eyes at, but it doesn't matter when the film as a whole works on so many levels.

Final thoughts: If you are a dance fan, check this one out. The dancing is amazing, and you will get a well crafted and acted story to boot!

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com