Wicked director’s first movies, now streaming, have even better musical sequences

Step Up 2: The Streets was Chu’s first directed characteristic, and he’d return to the franchise with Step Up 3D. And regardless of his later, grander musical work, it’s the Step Up franchise that has a few of my favourite Chu-directed musical sequences.

You probably have seen one Step Up film — or any dance film usually, to be trustworthy — you might be conversant in the plot. And neither Step Up 2: The Streets nor Step Up 3D will transfer the dial a lot; because the vital consensus (topping out on Rotten Tomatoes at 46% with the third film) can attest, in case you’ve seen one, you’ve seemingly seen all of them. A dancer caught between two worlds, compelled to evolve however dreaming of one thing they really feel deeper. Finally they discover the fusion of two types, and (gasp!) win the competitors/showcase/emotional battle they’ve been preventing. However that’s all to say: We’re not looking ahead to the plot. We’re right here for the dance, the grind, the titular stepping up (to the streets or in any other case).

And on this entrance, Chu greater than delivers. His newest musical choices are huge and flashy — examples of what motion pictures can do to actually adapt musical theater, translating the stage’s vitality into the filmic language. For Chu, this usually means swirling cameras, fast cuts, and ambitiously staged numbers. Against this, Step Up 2 and 3 are extra in step with older Hollywood dance sequence traditions: lengthy takes, to raised emphasize the talent and maintain the circulation going. All concentrate on the flowery footwork.

If his newer musicals have sequences that really feel like music movies, then the Step Up choices are the meat-and-potatoes showcases that assist you to simply genuinely respect the artistry. Whereas the story of dance motion pictures will be stiff, the narrative bursts of ardour in a final dance showdown or purely as a demonstration of stakes and personality are the place they snap into their groove (each halves reminding you that we come right here to look at dancers carry out, even when that additionally means watching them carry out performing).

Personally, I’m most a fan of Step Up 3D, with dance sequences pushed by little bites of character, allure, and greater than just a little impracticality. Whether or not it’s a Fred Astaire-remixed oner down a New York street making the most of props, a sharp tango, or simply one other unattainable cinematic loft providing a practice space, Chu lets 3D discover its footing by loosening the material of actuality totally in these moments and discovering one thing more true. As he holds the digital camera’s gaze on the efficiency, we get to see one thing actually particular — and that’s earlier than we even get to the ultimate dance battle.

Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D are actually streaming on Hulu.