Andie's arrival at the school sets up the film's primary conflicts. The first is attempting to fit in somewhere she obviously does not belong. The second concerns her getting a crew to The Streets, an underground competition to crown the best of the best. What follows are your standard high school problems with the popular boy, his on again/off again girlfriend, and befriending the school's outcasts. Nothing special, nothing exciting, and nothing fresh.

What the plot does do is link up, in pretty regular fashion, the dance sequences, which are something to behold. I have read those questioning whether or not any wires or special effects were used to achieve these physics-defying moves. I come down on the side of believing they were actually done without wires. It is hard to believe that it is done naturally, but not entirely. Anyway, the dances get more and more impressive leading up to the rain-soaked climax, hinted at in the trailer.

What makes these sequences work so well is the way they were shot. Not only are the performers incredibly talented at what they do, but director Jon M. Chu and cinematographer Max Malkin do a fine job of providing a dynamic camera that stands back enough to let us see everything, while also being intimate enough not to lose track of our characters.

Yes, the dancing is spectacular, but there is one more element needed to sell the drama. How are the acting performances? There is nothing that will win awards here, and fortunately none of it needs to. All of the actors do a fine job of playing their roles. They are all likable enough, once you get past the pretty faces, and it is easy to buy them in these roles, as thin as they are. Now, let me tell you, you may not want to get past the pretty faces. Briana Evigan has quite the adorable screen presence, and the final dance sequence? Easily one of the hottest things to grace the screen in some time.

Bottom line. Beyond all reaon, I enjoyed this movie. The plot is predictable, the acting is nothing special, but the dancing is a lot of fun and everything ties together nicely. So, if you are looking for some cinematic fun that requires little thinking, give this a spin. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Recommended.