Stomp sports fancy footwork, predictable plot
Combining an overused plotline with only a modicum of originality is never a good idea, not even for the talented cast of Stomp the Yard. While the dancing, choreography and music of the film are incredible, they still do not make up for the fact that the plotline has been continuously rehashed. Its new twist to the underdog story does not qualify Stomp the Yard as a must-see movie.
DJ Williams (Save the Last Dance 2’s Columbus Short) is a college freshman with a troubled past. To reform him, his mother decides to send him to Truth University in Atlanta, placing him under the watchful eyes of his aunt (Glitter’s Valarie Pettiford) and uncle (Ray’s Harry J. Lennix). Almost from the moment he arrives, DJ creates conflict. He fights with a girl in the registration line, has a run-in with a fraternity president and receives threats from a girl’s jealous boyfriend.
However, it turns out that DJ has a unique talent: dancing. Attempting to impress a girl, he wins a dance-off at a nightclub. Once his talent is discovered, a fraternity with a top step team invites him to join. DJ joins the team, adds his own new moves and rejuvenates the spirit and technique of the step team.
This stale and tired plotline is similar to what was used in other music and dance-oriented movies such as Drumline, You Got Served, and last year’s Step Up. While the story is overused, the soundtrack and superb dancing talent of the actors save Stomp the Yard from being entirely boring. The successful combinations of rhythm, coordination and precision are a credit to the skills of choreographer Dave Scott (Accepted) and countless hours of practice.
The music reflects the mood of the dancing and remains upbeat and original, adding zest to the worn-out story. Featuring artists such as E-40, The Pack 3 and The Roots, the soundtrack keeps up with the spirited rhythm of the stomp teams.
And, while the overall storyline is rather superfluous, Stomp the Yard allows a moment of serious reflection to make clear social assertions about the collegiate Greek system: The film depicts fraternities as cultish and barbaric institutions, a perspective emphasized by one of the team’s stomp costumes — complete with wolf headdresses and glowing green eyes.
Stomp the Yard’s obvious male chauvinism is yet another drawback to the movie. DJ’s love interest, April (Roll Bounce’s Meagan Good) constantly wears seductive and skin-flaunting outfits. She acts more as a device than as a character. Her father (The Ten Commandments: The Musical’s Allan Louis), DJ and her ex-boyfriend Grant (The Last Stand’s Darrin Dewitt Henson) all use her as a pawn in their plots for revenge or satisfaction.
Filmed on location in Atlanta, Stomp the Yard depicts its locales realistically. The scenes on the campus of the fictional Truth University were filmed at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Morris Brown College, all of which are historically black colleges in Atlanta.
The dancing and talented actors make Stomp the Yard a bearable viewing experience. But ultimately, the stale plot overrides the actors’ dancing and makes the movie undeserving of a second viewing.
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