Over the past seven years there has been a rash of young adult-themed dance movies. These films are usually set in some economically depressed neighborhood where dance is one of the only ways out of poverty, hence my moniker—Urban Dance movie. The blitz seems to have slowed down recently, but these soundtrack heavy films were guaranteed earners in their short heyday. It all started ostensibly with 2001’s Save the Last Dance. That surprising success was soon followed by stand outs You Got Served, Drumline, and of course Save the Last Dance 2. The genre even veered into documentary territory with David LaChapelle’s Rize in 2005. Last year’s significant entrant was Stomp the Yard and this year alone included How She Move and Step Up 2 the Streets which might both finally signal the death knell of this once profitable genre.
Rize (2005)
The comedic sports film has been in resurgence recently thanks to the unlikely game of Ping Pong. Beginning the trend was last year’s Balls of Fury, followed by Pongerz and the recent Ping Pong Playa. Perhaps such productions were inspired by the recent Beijing Olympics where Ping Pong was a primetime contender in several worldwide markets. However more likely this is a stand out subgenre amongst other sports comedies like Bad News Bears, Dodgeball, Blades of Glory or the recent Semi-Pro. The genre survives on a copious helping of stereotypes, sight gags, and runaway libidos. It may lead to more dramatic fare in the future but right now that maturity seems a long way off.
Ping Pong Playa (2008)
Finally I’ve been impressed by the slew of movies focusing on the foibles of brotherly love. This year already we have had Step Brothers, with the Brothers Bloom soon to follow in January ‘09. Last year was the juvenile raunch fest The Brothers Solomon, art house favorite The Darjeeling Limited, and the Steve Carrell vehicle Dan in Real Life. Brothers seem to be misbehaving all over the screen recently in these American dramedies. Filial competition is not an unfamiliar trope. However, the recent resurgence is the male answer to successful and more serious sister pairings over the years including Margot at the Wedding, Atonement, The Other Boleyn Girl, and soon to be released Rachel’s Wedding. Here’s hoping that both boys and girls can play together nicely in genre and content in the future.
The Brothers Bloom (2009)
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