Step Up 2 The Streets parents guide

Step Up 2 The Streets Parent Guide

Overall C+

Andie (Briana Evigan) may be a talented dancer, but her rebellious attitude is dampening her chances of successfully meeting the expectations of the Maryland School of the Arts. Then an introduction to a fast-footed fellow classmate named Chase (Robert Hoffman) ignites the prospect of competing in an underground dance battle --as well as some romantic sparks.

Release date February 13, 2008

Violence B-
Sexual Content B
Profanity C+
Substance Use B-

Why is Step Up 2 The Streets rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Step Up 2 The Streets PG-13 for language, some suggestive material and brief violence.

Parent Movie Review

Classes at the fictional Maryland School of the Arts are back in session again in this sequel to the dance fest Step Up from a couple of years ago. With a whole new cast (although heartthrob protagonist Tyler Gage [Channing Tatum] does make an opening act appearance), the creators of this version say it’s the exact inverse of their first film.

Rather than bringing culture to the streets, in this script the streets come to the MSA when step dance loving Andie (Briana Evigan) decides to lament her mother’s untimely death by doing “pranks” on the trains. When her “crew” is on the news, evading police and causing public mischief, she is presented with two choices by her guardian: Attend the artsy academy or take a trip to Texas to live with her aunt. For reasons not entirely understood by us, the latter option sounds akin to death, so she packs her street-wise attitude into a backpack and heads to class.

Predictably, her first day at school she bumps into the institution’s most eligible male. Chase (Robert Hoffman) is cool with the girl’s freestyle steps, but the conservative director of the esteemed institution—who also happens to be his brother Blake (Will Kemp)—doesn’t think spinning on your head qualifies as a dance move. Adding to the cast of dozens is Sophie (Cassie Ventura)—a confident and talented girl who fills the role of Chase’s ex-girlfriend, and “Moose” (Adam Sevani) who takes an instant liking to Andie but is blithely out of step with social norms.

The dance movie genre is becoming a fast growing category with street moves and “stepping” leading the way. Thankfully the Step Up series appears to be avoiding the usual sexual escapades that often plague teen-targeted films—the greatest issues in this area being Andie’s penchant for bust-baring tops and some suggestive choreography by various characters.

However, a sense of rebellion is evident, especially in regard to the youths’ rowdy public behavior on the subway and another prank involving breaking into a competing crew’s house and leaving an odorous calling card. In retaliation, the school’s dance studio is trashed and one character is physically assaulted. Consequences for these misdemeanors are conveniently overlooked, as is the question of how these high school students can regularly hang out at a dance club where alcohol is being served in the background.

Perhaps we are able to overlook that last faux pas because this cast appears far too old to be in high school. Only Sevani acts his age (he is a mere 15), while the rest of the principal cast members are well into their twenties. But, make no mistake, they can certainly dance and can even command the rains to fall when it’s time for their big outdoor finale on a water soaked industrial parking lot. With little motivation for our protagonist to learn a positive lesson and a know-it-all attitude that always gets her way, this Disney Touchstone title is no High School Musical and takes a step down from it’s first episode.

Starring Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura.. Theatrical release February 13, 2008. Updated

Step Up 2 The Streets
Rating & Content Info

Why is Step Up 2 The Streets rated PG-13? Step Up 2 The Streets is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language, some suggestive material and brief violence.

The second film in what appears to be a franchise from Disney’s Touchstone Pictures division, this movie is comparatively mild to other film’s in the US PG-13 rating category, yet still contains issues that may concern parents—the biggest being mischievous illegal behavior including a group of youth disturbing passengers and aggressively dancing on a subway train while wearing masks. One member “tags” (sprays graffiti) on public property. They also trash another dance “crew’s” house, which results in a more violent retaliation with in a man being beaten and major damage done to a school dance studio. Language includes infrequent mild profanities and about a half-dozen rude anatomical terms. Sexual content is limited to some suggestive dance moves, low-cut tops, a girl briefly seen in a bra while changing and a couple of quick kisses. Characters are portrayed as high school students yet regularly visit a dance club where alcohol is dispensed (although no main characters are seen drinking).

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Step Up 2 The Streets Parents' Guide

Dancing is often portrayed as a way to vent anger and frustration. Is that always the case in this film? What is Andie’s attitude toward her guardian, who was asked by her dying mother to care for her? Who changes in the end, Andie or her guardian?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Step Up 2 The Streets movie is July 14, 2008. Here are some details…

Catch all the fancy footwork with the DVD release of Step Up 2 The Streets, including deleted scenes (including dances by Jabbawockeez and the West Coast Riders Dance Crews), additional footage (Robert Hoffman Video Prank), featurettes (Outlaws of Hip Hop and Through Fresh Eyes) and a selection of music videos. Audio tracks are in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

Disney’s High School Musical and High School Musical 2 are both excellent films for younger viewers that feature music and dancing. Other dancing dramas include How She Move, Stomp the Yard and Honey.

Other films in this franchise include Step Up and Step Up 3D.