![]() On the dance floor, however, he is still hampered by the cocky selfishness and individuality that led to trouble back in Los Angeles. His relationship with April improves as he displays his sensitivity and true affection for her, as opposed to the arrogance of her current boyfriend. At first indifferent, DJ eventually goes with Grant's rivals, the lesser of the two teams. Amazed by his moves, both fraternities court him to increase their chances of winning at the Championship. ![]() To impress her and outshine Grant, DJ crashes the stage of a popular club to show off his dancing skills. ![]() In spite of April's relationship with Grant, DJ pursues her relentlessly, insinuating himself into her social life any way he can. With African roots and a contemporary blend of cheerleading and arm movements, step dancing is an integral part of the university's image, culminating in annual participation in the National Step Championship. As luck would have it, this fraternity is in a long-standing rivalry with another fraternity over their step-dancing teams. Unfortunately, she is already taken by Grant (Darrin Henson), a senior member of one of the top fraternities on campus. Having just barely set foot on campus, his eyes are immediately drawn to a young beauty named April (Meagan Good). Out of place among much wealthier students, DJ works as a campus gardener for his uncle to gain responsibility. There, he enrolls in Truth University, a prestigious college with a predominantly black student body. In the case of this film, it is especially disappointing because there is so much here that could have pushed it a little further had the director taken greater advantage of it.įollowing the death of his brother in a street brawl, hotheaded street dancer DJ (Columbus Short) is sent from the streets of Los Angeles to the peaceful neighborhood of his aunt and uncle in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the kind of movie that will probably appeal to a niche audience, satisfy their expectations, and then vanish from their memories the next time another such film comes along. But the teen-oriented "Stomp the Yard" is ultimately nothing more than a standard underdog story, delivering on the expectations of the genre without really adding anything to it. There is forbidden romance, to be sure, and we do get some street-smart rivalries. Could it be, a "West Side Story" for the 2000s? Alas, no.
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