Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dance movie is formulaic but boasts some fun sequences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Step Up Revolution
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a highly entertaining entry in the dance film franchise, praised for its impressive dance sequences and messages about hard work and taking risks. However, some viewers noted issues with language and mild sensuality, while opinions varied on its overall quality, with some calling it the best installment and others expressing disappointment.
- dance sequences
- entertaining plot
- messages of perseverance
- varied opinions
- mild language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Sean (Ryan Guzman) works as a waiter in a high-end Miami hotel -- but his true passion is serving as co-leader of The Mob, an underground dance crew that performs solely at flash mobs that are highly creative ... and usually illegal. In fact, The Mob is feverishly posting flash mob after flash mob online to win $10 million. But then Sean and Emily (Kathryn McCormick), the daughter of Sean's real estate developer boss (Peter Gallagher), meet cute, and they're smitten. Only problem? Emily's dad is planning to do away with Sean's beloved neighborhood to build another money-making mega-complex. Emily joins The Mob, but the rest of Sean's crew don't know her real identity. If they find out, it could be a disaster.
Is It Any Good?
STEP UP REVOLUTION is far from revolutionary. It's so paint-by-numbers, so bland, that it poses no danger of being a cultural phenomenon. But, boy, is it fun when the dance numbers hit all the right moves, and many of them do. The fedora dance is particularly incendiary.
But dance movies rarely, if ever, become must-sees. (Dirty Dancing is a rare exception.) You hardly remember the main characters, let alone the storyline. Step Up Revolution is no different. The dialogue is cheese ball, the plot threadbare. The stars are only passable actors. That said, they are amazing dancers, especially McCormick. (Enough other alums of the TV series So You Think You Can Dance make appearances here that it feels kind of like a reunion.) And they do make you feel like dancing. In the large scheme of things, that's not such a bad way to measure success.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Step Up Revolution's messages -- standing up for what you believe in and aiming high with your goals. How does it convey these messages?
Why do you think the crew becomes more brazen with each flash mob? How do you feel about becoming a consumer of videos made specifically to get clicks, regardless of content?
Given the crew's presumably honorable motivations, can their law-breaking be excused?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 27, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : November 27, 2012
- Cast : Kathryn McCormick , Ryan Guzman , Stephen Boss
- Director : Scott Speer
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Entertainment
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Arts
- Run time : 120 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some suggestive dancing and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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