Step Up Revolution (Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, Peter Gallagher) in Theatres on August 1, 2012

Step Up Revolution (2012)

Audience
Rating: 4.3/5
Liked the Movie: 86% (n=19,064)

Critics
Rating: 2.4/5
Liked the Movie: 36% (n=56)


Reviews

"No one goes to a "Step Up" movie for the plot or the romance. Only the dancing matters here." - Neil Genzlinger, New York Times

"Delivers plenty of spectacular fancy footwork in what is otherwise a flat-footed fantasy." - Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail

"Step Up Revolution treads familiar territory by surrounding its lively and kinetic dance sequences with a predictably generic story." - rottentomatoes.com

"The choreography is solid throughout, but director Scott Speer gets in his own way every time, relentlessly shifting camera angles to close-ups and reaction shots when he should be letting us witness the spectacle." - Sara Stewart, New York Post

"While dance purists won't be impressed by the energetic and athletic choreography -- the dancers have clearly learned routines but not necessarily technique -- date-movie audiences will likely want to go out dancing afterward themselves, and that's fun." - Frank Lovece, Newsday

"[Guzman and McCormick] zero acting experience - and it shows. Same goes for the first-time movie director, Scott Speer, who can't coax even a passable performance from his amateurish cast..." - Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

"Step Up: Revolution" is the fourth of the "Step Up" movies, a series of unconnected stories that serve as showcases for the kinds of young stars who sincerely hope they'll soon be in better movies. - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Will the next "Step Up" tackle the cutting-edge trend of planking?" - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News


Movie Info

Step Up Revolution is the next installment in the worldwide smash Step Up franchise, which sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily (Kathryn McCormick) arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer and soon falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called "The Mob." When a wealthy business man threatens to develop The Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people, Emily must band together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause. -- (C) Summit

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.

Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts

Directed By: Scott Speer

Written By: Jenny Mayer

Distributed By: Summit Entertainment

Cast
Ryan Guzman (Sean)
Kathryn McCormick (Emily)
Misha Gabriel (Eddy)
Peter Gallagher (Mr. Anderson)
Stephen Boss (Jason)
Mia Michaels (Olivia)
Megan Boone (Claire)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Burlesque (Cher, Christina Aguilera) in Theatres on February 2, 2011

Burlesque

Hazel's
Rating: 3/5
Review: Awesome vocals by Christina Aguilera and nice routines but the story is cliche and predictable. Kristen Bell portrayed a weak rival in the movie. The songs are just okay, nothing spectacular.

Audience
Average Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 71% (n=46,411)

Critics
Average Rating: 2.4/5
Like the Movie: 37% (n=140)


Reviews

"It's more hallucination than story, but hey, If you think of it as a slightly deranged long music video divathon it can be a lot of fun." - Nell Minow, Chicago Sun Times

"Burlesque is a preposterous and intermittently entertaining lesson in how to make a movie musical with a little brains and a lot of talent." - Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Campy and clichéd, Burlesque wastes its talented cast (including a better-than-expected Christina Aguilera) on a movie that wavers uncertainly between "bad" and "so bad it's good." - rottentomatoes.com

"The rest of Burlesque plays like an extended version of the "Lady Marmalade" video, with a few contrivances to provide vague conflict." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press

"Instead of leading with what Aguilera does best -- belting, vamping, spotlight hogging -- the movie shoehorns her into a rehashed backstage musical conceit." - Karina Longworth, Village Voice

"Burlesque manages what seemed impossible: It is filled with half-naked dancing girls, yet it's still boring." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday


Movie Info

Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts

Synopsis: Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club's proprietor and headliner. Burlesque's outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal...

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Distributor: Sony Pictures/Screen Gems

Directed By: Steve Antin

Cast
Cher (Tess)
Christina Aguilera (Ali)
Cam Gigandet (Jack)
Stanley Tucci (Sean)
Kristen Bell (Nikki)
Alan Cumming (Alexis)
Eric Dane (Marcus)
Peter Gallagher (Vince)
Julianne Hough (Georgia)

Source: rottentomatoes.com