Step Up 2 the StreetsMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Step Up 2 the Streets."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 50 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
12 OK for kids 12+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    The wall-to-wall soundtrack naturally features plenty of today's leading hip-hop and R&B artists, including Flo Rida, T-Pain, Missy Elliott and Trey Songz. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    Rather than mixing classical and modern styles the way "Step Up" did, this hip-hop-powered sequel is all about new moves, which should keep the kids coming back after the pic's initial Valentine's Day crush. Read full review

  • 67
    Entertainment Weekly |

    In a sequel that features the original's Channing Tatum only in cameo, a Baltimore teen (Briana Evigan, very winning) enrolls at an arts academy, leaving her street-dancing pals behind. So far, ho hum. But when she decides to form a new crew with her classmates, Step Up 2 the Streets improves considerably -- and it doesn't skimp on cool pretzel moves. Read full review

  • 50
    New York Daily News | Elizabeth Weitzman

    Unabashedly earnest, completely predictable and packed with enough high-voltage dance scenes to make any audience applaud. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    The current, much better Canadian movie "How She Move" has a more realistic grip on the racial politics of hip-hop-dance. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Ruthe Stein

    A sequel arrives for Valentine's Day with the unwieldy title Step Up 2 the Streets. If it performs as well, watch for "Step Up 3: the Sprained Ankle." Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Step Up 2 is one long, clichd exercise in predictability with a couple of vibrant dance sequences and some unintentionally hilarious bad acting. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times |

    An earnest sequel to the 2006 cornball musical drama "Step Up," mixing new characters into the original's setting. Read full review

  • 30
    Washington Post | Desson Thomson

    Let's wait for a movie where they do get it all right: story, acting and dancing. It'll happen, just not this time. Read full review

  • 30
    Austin Chronicle |

    If we don't stop these public dance-offs here and now, before too long we're going to have an entire generation of kids seeking salvation as back-up dancers for Justin Timberlake Read full review

View more reviews for Step Up 2 the Streets on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 12+ Electrifying dance elevates an almost boring film.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this dance movie targeting teens -- especially fans of the original Step Up -- is age-appropriate for older tweens. There's little sexual material, swearing, or violence.
  • Families can talk about why dance is so important to Andie, who appears to have had a difficult childhood (though we don't get many details about it). How does it allow her to grow and learn? What sense of satisfaction does she get out of competing in the streets?
  • Why do you think dance movies are so popular?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Andie lies to her guardian about her whereabouts, and she's betrayed, even victimized, by her old friends. Still, one of them realizes the error of her ways and helps her. And her new crew is supportive and helpful. One character is so enraged by Andie's perceived disloyalty that he beats up her new paramour/dance partner.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: Only one truly violent scene, but quite visceral: A teen gets beaten up by his dance enemies and is choked, thrown, punched, and kicked in a rage-filled moment.
  • sex false2 Sex: Pretty mild for the dance-movie genre. Some suggestive dance moves (all in good, clean fun, though). Lots of flirtations but no sex scenes. Two couples kiss, one quickly, the other slowly and somewhat passionately.
  • language false2 Language: Fairly clean, except for rare use of "titties," "ass," and "damn." As an insult, the words "tuck you" are written on a character's stomach.
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: Very little: A Run DMC poster is visible, and one character wears a Yankees cap.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false1 Drinking, drugs and smoking: A bit character takes a swig from what appears to be beer, then pours it over his head.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

4.5

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… astonishingly fun … Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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Step Up 2 the Streets Movie Ratings + Reviews

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