Stomp the Yard parents guide

Stomp the Yard Parent Guide

Overall C+

In this dance-by-number plot, an African American youth named DJ (Columbus Short) leaves his troubled life in LA behind after he is given the opportunity to attend an Atlanta university. As expected, new problems arise on campus when two rival fraternities learn of his street-style dance moves, which they both desperately want in order to win a national step show competition.

Release date January 11, 2007

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

Why is Stomp the Yard rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Stomp the Yard PG-13 for a scene of violence, some sexual material and language.

Parent Movie Review

Battling for supremacy on the streets goes to a new level when rivals clash on the dance floor. In an underground club, DJ Williams (Columbus Short) and his friends spar with another group for a large pot of money at an urban dance off in an inner city Los Angeles’ neighborhood. But the competition spills onto the street and leads to a brawl that results in the shooting death of DJ’s younger brother Byron (Justin Hires).

Arrested and convicted for his involvement in the crime, DJ avoids juvenile detention only when someone pulls strings and gets him enrolled at Georgia’s prestigious African American Truth University.

The relocation from the West Coast to the humid southern institution isn’t an easy one for the often-arrogant DJ and it’s not long before he gets into trouble at a local club after making a move on the girlfriend (Meagan Good) of a well-known frat boy, Grant (Darrin Henson). The confrontation escalates when the new arrival embarrasses the boyfriend on the dance floor by strutting his award winning street style.

DJ’s novel moves also get noticed by two campus fraternities who are vying for their own dominance at an upcoming National Fraternity Step Show. (This competition features highly choreographed routines based on the ancient African Boot Dance, and include complicated hand and foot moves performed in unison.) As leader of the Mu Gamma Xi, Zeke (Laz Alonso) wants to ensure his organization maintains their long running title. On the other hand, Sylvester (Brian J. White) and the Theta Ne Theta fraternity are courting DJ in hopes he will propel them to an upset win at the contest.

Unfortunately, shaking camera shots and erratic editing mar the film’s amazing athletic displays, making it difficult at times to even see the moves. Sporadic profanities, the bloody murder of DJ’s brother and some fistfights may be a concern for families along the crotch-grabbing choreography employed by some of the performers and off-stage condom discussions.

Under the tutelage of his chosen fraternity, DJ does learn to put aside his standoffish attitude and embrace a team mentality. He discovers he can become part of the brotherhood while remaining true to his individual ideals. While that message may be a worthwhile one for older teens stepping out on their own, Stomp the Yard’s predictable plot disappoints as it plods along without any of the remarkable twists or leaps seen on the dance floor.

Starring Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Darrin Henson. Theatrical release January 11, 2007. Updated

Stomp the Yard
Rating & Content Info

Why is Stomp the Yard rated PG-13? Stomp the Yard is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for a scene of violence, some sexual material and language.

This movie’s primary character certainly moves in a positive direction as he leaves his street life in Los Angeles and becomes a responsible college student desiring to earn a degree. To illustrate the contrast between his two lives, we see a street fight that results in his brother being shot to death (some blood is seen). Pushing and shoving confrontations occur in other scenes and contention grows within a romantic triangle. Sexual content includes suggestive dancing by males and females and a couple of remarks involving condoms including one man who proudly displays his supply. Frequent moderate profanities are included along with a possible obscene finger gesture and some social drinking in a bar atmosphere.

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Stomp the Yard Parents' Guide

Wondering what “Step Shows” are all about? To learn more about the dancing in this movie, check this page: http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/hbcu/step_shows.html

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Stomp the Yard movie is May 14, 2007. Here are some details…

Dust off your dance moves with the release of Stomp The Yard on DVD, Blu-ray and UMD. And if that’s not enough "Steppin’" for you, check out the featurette Battles. Rivals. Brothers.—the story behind Stomp The Yard, two extended dance sequences Get Buck and Opening Battle, and/or listen to the filmmaker commentary. There is also a gag reel and the deleted scene The Clean Up.

Related home video titles:

A young delinquent is given the opportunity to improve his dance steps when he is sentenced to do community service in the film Step Up. An aspiring ballerina uses her hip-hop skills to keep kids off the rough city streets when she offers a dance class in the movie Honey. Drumline is yet another film in which a young man (this time from Harlem) is provided a chance to turn his life around in Georgia.