Step Up 3D parents guide

Step Up 3D Parent Guide

The imaginative and energetic choreography may inspire young viewers to step up and develop their own style of musical movement.

Overall B

Taking dance into a 3D world, this chapter in the Step Up franchise features a houseful of New York City street dancers preparing for a high-stakes hip-hop show down.

Release date August 6, 2010

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

Why is Step Up 3D rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Step Up 3D PG-13 for brief strong language.

Run Time: 107 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Step Up 3D (also known as Step Up 3) is a formula film, yet it is a formula that seems to be working for the movies’ producers. Their third installment in the dance franchise includes a sugary romance and plenty of moves designed to take advantage of the 3D technology. Rushing the screen, thrusting out their arms and throwing team members into the air, the characters push the limits of their dance floor as far as they can.

In the story, Luke (Rick Malambri), a gifted performer and aspiring filmmaker, assembles a group of New York hoofers known as the Pirates from off the streets. He brings them to an old warehouse his parents converted into a practice hall where dancers of all ilks could come together to perfect their art.

Now his parents are gone and the bank is eyeing the piece of prime real estate in downtown New York. Five months behind on his mortgage payments, Luke knows his only chance to keep the studio solvent is to win the upcoming World Jam dance competition. But first he and the Pirates have to qualify for the finals. With his camcorder in hand, Luke scours the city for some new talent to add to the troupe.

That’s when he meets NYU freshman Moose (Adam G. Sevani) who has just arrived on campus. (Moose first made his appearance in Step Up 2 The Streets.) Luke invites the new student back to The Vault where his company rehearses. Though Moose promised his parents he’d give up dancing in order to focus on his studies as an engineer, he soon finds himself practicing his art during every spare moment he can find. The time commitment impacts not only his studies, but more importantly, his relationship with his old high school friend Camille (Alyson Stoner.)

In addition to Moose, Luke lures the beautiful Natalie (Sharni Vinson who has an uncanny ability for tearing up) into joining the group just before their first qualifying battle. However, the Pirates’ rivals in the House of Samurai are eager to win the competition as well and are willing to stoop to just about any level to make sure they take home the title.

Although the storyline may be shallow and predictable, the performances are anything but. Combing the country for the nation’s best, the film’s casting crew has gleaned an ensemble of agile and athletic terpsichoreans who execute some truly amazing choreography directed by Jamal Simms. Their styles include a mix of Indian, popping and locking, robotics, ballet, tap and urban street moves, as well as some parkour-inspired training steps.

The production has the mandatory bad boy—Julien (Joe Slaughter) who leads the Samurai—yet there isn’t the same kind of rebellious, sulking individuals we’ve seen in past films. These characters dance because they love it and because they love each other. Forming a family of sorts, they bring out the best in one another by sharing their skills. The spirit of teamwork and dedication are positive messages in this movie, as is the importance of pursuing educational opportunities. Parents will also appreciate that the script focuses primarily on competition preparations with only brief scenes of kissing, some infrequent sensual dance moves and a smattering of language concerns.

While the film follows the underground dance culture, the imaginative and energetic choreography may inspire young viewers to step up and develop their own style of musical movement.

Directed by Jon Chu . Starring Sharni Vinson, Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani. Running time: 107 minutes. Theatrical release August 6, 2010. Updated

Step Up 3D
Rating & Content Info

Why is Step Up 3D rated PG-13? Step Up 3D is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for brief strong language.

Violence: Some pushing and shoving takes place during a dance off scuffle. Dancers cause some mild property damage and disturbances during a street routine. A man releases all of a vendor’s helium balloons and fails to pay for them.

Sexual Content: A couple embraces and kisses on at least two occasions. Shirtless men and women with bare midriffs are seen briefly. Dance steps include some infrequent crotch grabbing and other sensual movements.

Language: The script includes infrequent profanities, scatological slang, some vulgar terms, suggestive song lyrics and brief sexual innuendo.

Drugs/Alcohol: Billboards advertising alcohol are seen in the background.

Other: Characters bet on the outcome of dance battles. Characters are caught lying to one another.

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Step Up 3D Parents' Guide

Films often fail to address the financial realities of its characters. While we know Luke is in trouble with the bank, how does the script suggest he pays for his mortgage? How does the troupe cover electricity, food and other monetary needs for costumes, electronics etc.?

A former team member tells Luke it is time to grow up and face facts. How credible is this comment considering that Carlos is still involved as a dancer himself? What kinds of employment opportunities are available for these performers? As in other professional athletic arenas, how difficult is it to succeed in this field?

What impact does lying have on relationships in this movie? How hard is it to reestablish trust?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Step Up 3D movie is December 21, 2010. Here are some details…

Step Up 3 (also known as Step Up 3D) releases to home video on December 21, 2010 in the following packages:

Step Up 3 on DVD:

- Extra moves: This music montage features the dancers with alternate angles and extra footage

- Making of the music videos

- Music Videos

-“Club Can’t Handle Me” - Flo Rida featuring David Guetta

- “My Own Step (theme from Step Up 3D)” - Roscoe Dash and T-Pain, featuring Fabo

- “Already Taken” - Trey Songz

-“This Girl” - Laza Morgan

- “This Instant” - Sophia Fresh featuring T-Pain

- “No Te Quiero (Remix)”; - Sophia Del Carmen featuring Pitbull

- “Irresistible”; - Wisiny Yandel (3:15)

- “Spirit of the Radio” - Jrandall

Step Up 3: Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

- Extra moves: This music montage features the dancers with alternate angles and extra footage

- Making of the music videos

- Music Videos

- “Club Can’t Handle Me”- Flo Rida featuring David Guetta

- “My Own Step (theme from Step Up 3D)” - Roscoe Dash and T-Pain, featuring Fabo

-“Already Taken” - Trey Songz

- “This Girl” - Laza Morgan

- “This Instant” - Sophia Fresh featuring T-Pain

- “No Te Quiero (Remix)” - Sophia Del Carmen featuring Pitbull

- “Irresistible” - Wisiny Yandel

-“Spirit of the Radio” - Jrandall

- Born From A Boombox: A Luke Katcher Film - A documentary Luke made to get into film school.

- Deleted scenes -With intros by Director Jon M. Chu

- Club Battle

- Sneaker Montage

- Carlos Explains Redhook

- Jacob Tribal Story

- Capoeira

- Moose Gets “Sick”

- Sad Montage

- Opening World Jam

Step Up 3: Three-Disc Combo Pack: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy

- Extra moves: This music montage features the dancers with alternate angles and extra footage

- Making of the music videos

- Music Videos

- “Club Can’t Handle Me”- Flo Rida featuring David Guetta

- “My Own Step (theme from Step Up 3D)” - Roscoe Dash and T-Pain, featuring Fabo

-“Already Taken” - Trey Songz

- “This Girl” - Laza Morgan

- “This Instant” - Sophia Fresh featuring T-Pain

- “No Te Quiero (Remix)” - Sophia Del Carmen featuring Pitbull

- “Irresistible” - Wisiny Yandel

-“Spirit of the Radio” - Jrandall

- Born From A Boombox: A Luke Katcher Film - A documentary Luke made to get into film school.

- Deleted scenes -With intros by Director Jon M. Chu

- Club Battle

- Sneaker Montage

- Carlos Explains Redhook

- Jacob Tribal Story

- Capoeira

- Moose Gets “Sick”

- Sad Montage

- Opening World Jam

NOTE: The 1-disc 3D Blu-ray contains the feature only; there is no bonus on the 3D Blu-ray

Related home video titles:

This film was preceded by Step Up and Step Up 2 The Streets.

Moose and his friend perform a dance routine reminiscent of movies such as Singin’ In The Rain and White Christmas. An aspiring dancer teaches hip-hop to the neighborhood kids at the local community center while waiting for her big break in Honey. A refined dance teacher offers to give ballroom lessons to a group of hoodlums in a New York high school in Take the Lead. Watch Michael Jackson perform his own signature step in This Is It.