Gotta Kick It Up!
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Generic Disney teen dance drama fails to find its beat.
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Gotta Kick It Up!
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What's the Story?
In GOTTA KICK IT UP! wayward teen Daisy (Camille Guaty) joins the school dance team in order to escape detention. As the students (including a young America Ferrera) gradually put their differences aside and enjoy the camaraderie of working together, they don't understand why their dance coach, Miss Bartlett (Susan Egan), thinks they are not ready to compete. That is, until a bonding moment between Miss Bartlett and an unexpectedly talented Daisy reveals painful memories of failure from the coach's past and an unacknowledged drive in her student that results in the whole team coming together with a new faith and confidence that might just see them make it to the Nationals.
Is It Any Good?
While this movie is innocent and ultimately uplifting, there is a clunky paint-by-numbers feel to the way it hits all the predictable plot points and emotional notes. Everything, from the slightly stilted acting and the underdeveloped ensemble characters to the lack of originality, keeps Gotta Kick It Up! from being the movie it could have been -- a spirited, feel-good story with an empowering message that really hits the beats.
Guaty does a decent job as Daisy, but the troubled teen with a secret passion is such a stock character that she gets lost amid the stereotypes. Some nice moments incorporating the students different cultures into the dance routines and Daisy teaching Miss Bartlett to say, "Yes, I can" in Spanish are sweet and go some way to being inclusive. But unfortunately these are too few and far between in an underwhelming production that no amount of pom-poms and high-kicks can save.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of teamwork as portrayed in Gotta Give It Up! Why is working together as a team such an important character strength to learn? What other movies show characters working together toward a common goal? How can I use media to teach my kid teamwork?
How does fear of failure affect the behavior of both the coach and certain team members? Can you think of a time when you were worried about failure? How did you deal with it?
The dance team are all from different Latin American backgrounds. Why is it important to see diversity in movies? Would you like to see more? Discover other inspiring movies for Latinx families.
Did any characters surprise you during the film? What did they reveal about themselves that was unexpected?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 26, 2002
- Cast: Camille Guaty , America Ferrera , Jhoanna Flores
- Director: Ramon Menendez
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Arts and Dance , Friendship , Middle School
- Run time: 78 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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