If there’s one thing we love at FYA — OK, there are lots of things we love. And unlike a parent choosing their favourite child, it’s actually difficult to pick which one we love the most. But one thing we absolutely cannot resist is DANCE. So when I discovered these dance flicks from the U.K., I obvi had to perform a Highly Scientific Analysis of the StreetDance series.
The So-Called Plot:
Like many a niche film series before it, the StreetDance movies follow a similar pattern. Allow me to demonstrate with a rousing round of Movie Mad Libs:
Boasting a unique blend of [DANCE STYLE] and street dance, an unlikely dance crew that hopes to make it to the StreetDance finals in [CITY]. Sparks fly between the street dance leader and a [SAME DANCE STYLE] dancer, on their journey to take down rival crew [GROUP NAME].
And here are the formulae for each:
| StreetDance | StreetDance 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE STYLE | Ballet | Latin |
| CITY | London* | Paris |
| GROUP NAME | The Surge | Invincible |
* The U.K. finals are in London, but the world championship is in NYC. It’s my scientific imperative to disclose this.
Casting Callback
I don’t really keep up with Brit pop culture or dance celebs, so I didn’t recognize a soul. Fortunately, the characters themselves are easily identifiable.
Our Protagonist
StreetDance: Nichola Burley as Player Carly
When Carly takes over the dance crew, it struggles under her leadership, and she resort to an unconventional collaboration with a group of ballet dancers. Since starring in this franchise, Nichola earned roles in Wuthering Heights (2011) and Death Comes to Pemberley. Who knew street dancing was the key to getting cast in period pieces?
StreetDance 2: Falk Hentschel as Ash
OMG how ecstatic am I that I’m able to do this: Ash wants to be the very best, like no one ever was. To catch them (= street dancers of Europe) is his real test, to train them is his cause…! Well actually, Ash’s cause is his grudge against a dance crew that laughed at him when he took a break from selling popcorn to show off his dance skillz. (No, I am not making this up.) Falk has amassed an interesting résumé, but nothing stands out as much to me as him being one of the Hot Cops from Arrested Development.
The Love Interest
StreetDance: Richard Winsor as Tomas
Tomas is the wearer of many deep V-necks, while Richard was once voted as the sexiest dancer in the world. The movie pays homage to this prestigious title through multiple scenes in which Tomas dances shirtless.
StreetDance 2: Sofia Boutella as Eva
Eva sultrily dances in a boxing ring on a nightly basis. (No, I am not making this up. And yes, StreetDance 2 is ridic.)
The Sage Adult
StreetDance: Charlotte Rampling as Helena
Helena is the ballet teacher who wants her students to join the street dance crew, ’cause SHE’S A WILD CARD, BISHES! I feel like I should know Charlotte from more things, but now it’ll only ever be StreetDance for me.
StreetDance 2: Tom Conti as Manu
Eva’s uncle doesn’t really mentor the dancers, but he gives great Skeptical Face. Tom’s credentials are pretty impressive, so maybe he’s just a huge fan of dance like us.
British Moose
Both Movies: George Sampson as Eddie
Because there must always be an affable lad to bridge distantly related dance movies. George won the second series of Britain’s Got Talent, so I guess he’s a big deal. Or at least a medium deal that looks like a dancing Peeta.
IRL Dance Crews
Considering all of my dance knowledge comes from watching So You Think You Can Dance, I don’t have much dance commentary other than “OMG AMAZING.” So watch and enjoy!
Both Movies: Flawless as The Surge (start at 0:50)
StreetDance: Diversity as Aaron’s crew (start at 2:00)
Chemistry Grade
StreetDance: C+
StreetDance 2: B
Much to your surprise, I’m sure, these films are not so burdened with things like character development. Like, Tomas’ name didn’t even register with me until halfway through his movie! And aside from being good-looking dancers, I have no idea why these people are attracted to each other (although, I mean, that alone can be reason enough). But there’s plenty of flirty dancing — and dirty dancing when it comes to Ash and Eva, whose slight edge is also attributed to more attention being paid to their relationship than Carly and Tomas’.
Cliché Count
Both Movies
- Character Intros with Names On Screen
- Assembling Crew Montage
- Precocious Child Dancer
- Opposites Attract
- Training Montages
- Dance Sequences**
** No hyperbole: not two minutes goes by in StreetDance (and maybe two and a half in StreetDance 2) without some kind of dancing.
StreetDance
- Slo-Mo Villain Entrance
- Resident Horndog
- Dancing in the Rain
- Bitchy Ballerina
- Food Fight
- Obligatory Grownup Romance
StreetDance 2
- Pillow Fight
- Lover’s Quarrel at Crucial Moment
- Couples’ ANGGGGST
Soundtrack
StreetDance: Brit Hip Hop/Pop
StreetDance 2: European Smorgasbord
I definitely preferred the soundtrack of the first movie to the second one, which has a bit more techno and songs I know like “Bass Down Low”. (As transcribed from my scientific notes: “[squiggly-faced emoji].”) But StreetDance 2 also has French rap, so.
Slumber Party Potential: Decent
These movies are essentially really long music videos. Entertaining and enjoyable long music videos, but ones that you really don’t need to pay attention to the plot. If there existed a function to mute just the dialogue, you could watch the movies and pretty much not miss a thing. As for how they stack up to that other dance franchise, this probs has way less plot. The StreetDance movies aren’t especially quotable — in a good or bad way — but they’re a veritable feast for the eyes, in terms of dancing and eye candy (“ABS” and “OH GOD THOSE QUADS” were among the comments I wrote down). You could do a lot worse for a movie to play in the background, TRUST.
