Make it Happen

'Make it Happen' is yet another in a long line of hip, street dancing movies featuring starlets dancing their way to the top - whether that's being the belle of the ball, the queen bee at college or hitting the big time on Broadway. It's a line that includes 'Save the Last Dance', 'Honey' and 'Step Up' and brags the same choreographer as at least two of these. 'Make it Happen' may be no better or no more entertaining, but it's very much their equal, even if the general narrative is beginning to feel a bit 'previously enjoyed'.



It was a little difficult to review the film as the DVD arrived in savaged form with a burnt-in caption obscuring a third of the on-screen action at any given time. This was not occasional - it was burnt in to every frame of the movie. Had it not come from the generally lovely PR folk at Optimum, I would have hurled it like a frisbee back at whence it came. It's the craziest thing. What do studios think they're doing with these awful burnt in captions? It insults the filmmakers themselves, destroying their work with brutal disregard to any aesthetic value the film may have had. This may well be the last review I will ever do for companies' intent on destroying their own properties in this way. Anyway, rant over.



So what's the film about? Lauryn (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a young woman from a small town in Indiana who dreams of making it big as a dancer. Following the sudden death of her parents, she selflessly puts her ambitions on hold to help her brother Joel (John Reardon) to keep the family's auto-shop open. When her routine fails to impress the X-Factor style 'judges' at a long-awaited audition with the Chicago School of Music & Dance, Lauryn is dejected. Unable to face Joel and her spirit broken, she decides to stay in Chicago. She moves in with a dancer friend who is (coincidentally) one of the first people she meets in Chicago, and the new friend manages to get her a bookkeeping job in a local burlesque club.



One night when the club is closed, Lauryn turns on the music and begins to dance. Alone and uninhibited, she at last feels free. However, the club's DJ Russ (Riley Smith), returns and watches the routine and is knocked out by what he sees. So when one of the dancing girls leaves, Russ reveals to the club owner Brenda (Karen LeBlanc) that Lauryn has the moves. At first she fails to get the hang of the slinky soulstress's moves but when she ditches that in favour of her own street moves she not only finds her own style, she completely wows the club's crowd. Filled with confidence she returns to the audition hall and forces her way onto the stage. Full of fresh attitude and confidence she auditions again - with very different results.



Despite treading some slightly dodgy territory (a burlesque club?), like 'Pretty Woman' this is quickly forgotten. There is a positive energy throughout that makes it every bit as inspiring as its predecessors for its target audience. My daughters (both teens and both keen dancers) thoroughly enjoyed this film despite the irritating captions. So it's on their 'must get' list as the sort of film that will bear repeated viewings.

The soundtrack is a pumping urban mix in common with the Step Up franchise and the 5.1 audio is fairly huge during the dance sequences.



It's nicely shot, using some subtly dark images not common in teen movies, giving it an altogether grittier feel than many in its genre.
There are supposedly a host of fun extras though not on the check disc that I had so I can't comment on this.
The associated PR for the movie (released today) is really pushing the keep-fit aspect of dance, probably as it's the time when many of us make new years resolutions to lose weight or get fit. As an inspirational catalyst, this movie might just work for any lethargic teenagers in your house.

For its genre, not bad at all, and though some criticism has already been levelled at the movie for the choreography and dance ability displayed, having been to dozens of showcases myself I heartily disagree. The dances in the latter part of the film (once our heroine finds her own style) are very impressive indeed.

So recommended if you have an interest in street dance or have daughters or sons who do. It's certainly more inspiring in that respect than the recent George Sampson release.A nice start to the new year.