How She Move
Ages: General Audience

The story is good but it's the moves that make this an extraordinary film.

Rutina Wesley stars as Raya, a girl struggling to find a way to a better life. Raya sees a chance to get out of her tough urban neighborhood by winning a local stepping contest offering a $50,000 prize, and joins an all-male team against the wishes of her academically-focused mother. The film also stars Tre Armstrong, Melanie Nicholls-King and Dwain Murphy.

So that's the story, but the fabulous thing about this film are the songs by Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes and Lil' Mama and spectacular dance routines by someone who I have never heard of but is clearly celebrated - the choreographer Hi-Hat.

Hi-Hat, with the help of Dante and Troy, the only two actors who had previous dance experience beat the crew into shape in five weeks. They took a bunch of actors and created five hip hop groups that are unbelievably professional down to their routines, costumes and names. description of how they made the film is a story in itself. The disk is filled with such explosive hip hop, stepping and breaking that seeing it once isn't enough.

Fun Factor: Woo-woo good
Female Factor: Big strong female characters - supportive mom

Reviewed by: Editor - 04/08