Three out of Five stars
Running time: 98 mins

Watchable sequel that compensates for its cliche-laden script with likeable characters and a stunningly choreographed dance finale.

What's it all about?
Step Up 2 The Streets is a sequel to the 2006 hit. Like the first film, it's set in Baltimore and focuses on the Maryland School of Performing Arts, whose latest student, Andie (Briana Evigan), has been forced to attend after getting into trouble with her street dance crew, the 410, for performing in illegal places.

Andie's newfound school commitments soon get her kicked out of the 410, so she puts together a group of gifted misfits from the school, intending to defeat her old crew at the upcoming urban dance contest, The Streets. Along the way, she clashes with the school's uptight new principal (Will Kemp) and finds herself falling for the principal's brother, talented dance student Chase (Robert Hoffman), when he agrees to help her.

The Good
Newcomer Briana Evigan makes a likeable lead, investing her character with feisty energy and generating decent chemistry with Hoffman. There's also strong supporting work from Adam G Sevani as Moose, while Channing Tatum briefly reprises his role from the first film, just for the sake of continuity.

These types of film tend to stand or fall on the characters and the quality of the dancing, as the scripts are usually packed with cliches. Fortunately the dance scenes are both inventive and amusing – the kids playing a videoed performance prank on the leader of the 410 as an entrance requirement for The Streets is a definite highlight, while the finale is breath-taking to watch and unlike anything you've seen before.

The Bad
Even the film's bad bits (such as Kemp's atrocious acting) provide entertainment, particularly during the video scene, where crew leader Tuck (Black Thomas) exclaims, Yo! Why does my crib smell like Funyuns, broccoli and ball-sweat? and then discovers the answer to that question.

Worth seeing?
If you enjoyed Step Up, then Step Up 2 The Streets won't disappoint. It may be cheesy and cliched but its target audience of dance-happy teens will lap it up.