Stomp the Yard - Movie Review

DJ Williams is a 19-year-old growing up in Los Angeles; while DJ is at heart a good kid and a gifted street dancer, he runs with a dangerous crowd, and one night an underground dance competition turns into a brawl and DJ ends up in jail. DJ's younger brother has already died a violent death, and his mother, hoping to put him back on the straight and narrow, sends DJ off to Truth University, a historically African-American college in Atlanta. At first, DJ feels like a misfit at Truth, but when he gets a chance to show off his dancing skills, he attracts the attention of two campus fraternities. Greek life is a major presence at Truth, and each year the fraternities take part in a "stepping" competition, in which the members show off their synchronized dance moves. DJ joins the ONO house, and is eager to help them take the championship away from their campus rivals, but in time he also comes to understand the brotherhood and community service that's a key part of his fraternity's background.

This film started off on the wrong foot and never really got on track. The one positive thing that this film has going for it is the dancing. There are some amazing dancers that are showcased who definitely have original and "off the hook" moves. That being said, there's not really anything else positive to say about this movie. The plot was very weak and the acting wasn't much better. When there was dialog (which wasn't much), it seemed forced and almost like the writers created some lame banter to fill space between the dancing. So, while the dancing was great, it got a bit repetitive midway through and thinking back, it was kinda cheesy how these hardcore, buffed men solved their heated disagreements with a dance-off - now that's old school.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.