Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Star-crossed dance romance doesn't have the best moves.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Make Your Move
What's the Story?
Donny (Derek Hough), a struggling street dancer from New Orleans, heads to New York to join his brother, Nick (Wesley Jonathan), who's running an underground nightclub in MAKE YOUR MOVE. On his first night in the city, Donny ends up dancing on the bar with Aya (South Korean pop star BoA), but their budding romance is almost quashed when they realize that Aya's brother, Kaz (Will Yun Lee), is Nick's former partner and now nemesis, who's in charge of a competing club.
Is It Any Good?
The stars of Make Your Move are known for their dance skills rather than their acting, and it shows. Hough and BoA are stiff thespians, seemingly uncomfortable in dramatic scenes. Still, they share a spark when they're on the dance floor, which is where the movie ought to have spent most of its time. Alas, no. Which is too bad, since the plot isn't very original and fails to generate much tension. The camera work also conspires to make the movie hard to enjoy. What's a dance movie for but to highlight the dancing? So it doesn't make any sense to spend time zooming in for close-ups and framing the dancers from the chest up. Let the dancing do the talking. Or, in this case, the acting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Make Your Move uses dance sequences to show the growing sexual attraction between Donny and Aya. How does this differ from standard romance movies? How does it compare to other dance movies you've seen?
How does Donny and Aya's love of dance bring them together? How do their families keep them apart? Why do you think the "star-crossed lovers" storyline is such a popular one in romantic dramas?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 18, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : July 22, 2014
- Cast : Derek Hough , BoA
- Director : Duane Adler
- Studio : CJ Entertainment
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Arts
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language including sexual references, and brief violence
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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