Grab your dancing shoes and movie theatre popcorn; it’s time for the latest movie in the Step Up series. Complete with outlandish dance numbers and a typical love story, this movie falls right into place in the series.

Director Scott Speer debuted with this film, and it showed. The leading actors, Ryan Guzman and Kathryn McCormick, had little chemistry and the love story was very typical and not surprising. Throughout the movie, the acting was subpar. However, the dance numbers were very original and captivating.

Choreographers Chuck Maldonado, Christopher Scott and Jamal Sims outdid themselves in this film. Since the main story line of the movie involves flash mobs, all dance numbers were in random, creative places – all with outstanding choreography. Dancers enveloped the screen each time a dance number was performed. The choreography flowed together and each number was very entertaining. Because of the film’s plot, each dance number played a different role, and all told a different story. The choreographers did a fantastic job at bringing these stories to life through the dancers. Being a dancer myself, I may be a bit biased to the dancing, but at the same time, because I know dancing, it takes a lot to impress me. The dance numbers definitely impressed.

Perhaps my favorite dance scene was also the most creative. In the movie, “The Mob” (the main crew of dancers) breaks into an art museum and the members each disguise themselves as pieces of art. One by one, these “masterpieces” come to life and dance throughout the museum. Because this number was so unexpected and artistic, it was also entertaining.

Other dance numbers included dancing in the street and on top of cars; dancing in a classy restaurant; and using platforms, metal rods to create sparks and trampolines and bungee chords. Reviews were not wrong to say that this was the “best dance movie yet,” if they were discussing the actual dance scenes. However, when discussing the acting and the subplot of the “love story,” I would have to disagree with other reviews.

The idea of the flash mobs and creativity of each number was possibly the only good part of the movie. The rest of the movie played out the way all of the other Step Up movies do: a rich, city girl somehow falls in love with a poor, urban boy whose only passion in life is to dance. Their paths cross and are brought together by this wonderful art form, but then torn apart by an unfortunate twist of fate. The movie ends with an over-the-top (but still amazing) dance number to win the girl’s heart, and all is well again.

All in all, the dancing plot of the story was creative and captivating. However, the mediocre acting took away from the overall entertainment of the movie. Although the dancing deserves a high score, producers should stay away from making yet another “Step Up” movie.