STEP UP 2 THE STREETS
Great dancing, positive values, and a little story on the side.
Should You Watch It?
If you and your family are looking for a story-driven drama, this is not that movie. But if you want thrilling hip-hop dancing, energetic music, and positive themes about family, love, acceptance, and self-sacrifice, Step Up 2 the Streets delivers.
The plot is predictable, the acting is shallow, and the characters are flat. Still, the dance sequences are engaging, even when they run too long. The off-color material is present but limited, and the movie keeps its emphasis on entertainment and personal dreams.
Teens and adults can enjoy it with discernment. Parents of younger children should weigh the content carefully. The practical answer: watch it with teenagers and adults if the listed concerns fit your family’s standards.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAndie, an orphaned teenage girl, is given one more chance at the Maryland School of the Arts after skipping classes and getting involved with a hip-hop vandal crew. At the school, she struggles with its structure and rigid instructors while feeling rejected by her former friends.
Then she meets Chase, the school’s premier dancer. Together with other students who love hip-hop, Andie prepares for “the streets,” a Baltimore competition where the best crews face off. Along the way, she finds acceptance and a new family of friends.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this movie succeeds as entertainment more than as drama. Its greatest strength is the immense dancing skill of its cast and choreographers. The dance sequences are thrilling and engaging, and the movie plays like an energetic music video.
The story is less successful. The plot is predictable, the acting has little depth, and the characters are flat and one-dimensional. Some dance sequences feel long and do not advance the story. Even so, the film achieves its goal of entertaining viewers and includes positive moral elements.
The Worldview
The movie centers on human emotion, love, acceptance, and following personal dreams. It presents family, friendship, and self-sacrifice as important virtues, while showing an orphaned teenager finding belonging in a new community. It also includes one positive reference to God.
The film’s outlook is largely focused on the present world and personal fulfillment. Its message about following one’s heart is balanced by a moral emphasis on family, love, and sacrifice. The hip-hop culture also includes vandalism, evading police, and other wrongdoing, which keeps the movie’s celebration of freedom from being entirely uncomplicated.
At its best, the film recognizes that people need love and a place to belong. Scripture likewise calls believers to genuine family-like affection: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Romantic worldview that deals with human emotion, love and the idealism of acceptance that deals with the present world as well as following one’s heart, yet with a moral tone dealing with family, love and self-sacrifice and one positive reference to God, plus one quick politically correct environmentalist element as guy wears T-shirt about global warming; 11 obscenities and eight light profanities; violence includes one sequence where three guys threaten, push, punch and kick one guy to warn him to stay away from a dance competition; light sexual content includes some unmarried kissing, some lightly sensual dancing with nothing graphic and some suggestive lyrics heard lightly in the background hip hop music; nudity includes naturalistic upper male nudity and young women seen in sports-top and dance clothes that reveal their midriffs and some cleavage; some alcohol seen in the background of a dance club; drug content includes woman takes some prescription pills; and, miscellaneous immorality includes lying, pranks being played on people, pranksters running from the police, girl tries to run away from home but goes back and two instances of vandalism of both private and public property.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Andie finds acceptance and a new family of friends. What makes a community genuinely loving rather than merely exciting?
Romans 12:10 · Galatians 6:2The characters pursue their personal dreams while learning about love and self-sacrifice. When should a dream be reshaped for the good of others?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 10:24The movie includes vandalism, pranks, and running from the police. How should freedom and creativity be balanced with responsibility?
Romans 13:1–4 · Galatians 5:13The film highlights the importance of family, including family found through friendship. How can your family make someone who feels alone feel welcomed?
Hebrews 13:2 · James 1:27The Final Word
Step Up 2 the Streets is a fun, energetic showcase for talented dancers. Its story is shallow, but its themes of family, acceptance, love, and self-sacrifice give the spectacle a positive center. For teenagers and adults willing to use discernment, it is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
