---
title: "Step Up: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/step-up/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/step-up"
critics_score: 58
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Step Up (2006): what the critics said

Critics' score 58 from 8 reviews: 1 positive, 6 mixed, 1 negative.

The reviews lean towards a mixed response: Step Up earns more praise for its dancing and appealing leads than for its story. The clearest agreement concerns the energetic dance sequences, with the combination of ballet and breakdance providing much of the pleasure. Several critics also find the central pairing engaging, praising their chemistry and enthusiasm, while Channing Tatum’s dancing receives particular approval.

Reservations centre on a familiar formula, predictable plotting and dialogue that gives the performers little help. Some find the storytelling merely routine; others object to caricature, sermonising or subplots that leave too little time for dance. The spread is fairly wide: Variety finds an engaging crowd-pleaser despite the formula, while The Guardian dismisses its appeal as limited to tween sleepovers. Between those positions, the prevailing view is of a competent diversion whose pleasures are most likely to satisfy dance fans and teenagers.

## Variety — Joe Leydon

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2006. 

Leydon finds the film crowd-pleasing and engaging despite its familiar, formulaic storyline. He praises the appealing leads and their strong dancing, as well as the energetic dance sequences.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/step-up-1200514255/)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2006. 

The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/movies/11step.html?_r=0)

## Time Out — Anna Smith

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2006. 

The page is identified as a film review, but the critic’s verdict is unavailable in the supplied text. The standfirst describes Tyler Gage and his sentence for damaging an arts school, without revealing a point of praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/step-up-1)

## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez

Rating 2.5/4. 9 August 2006. 

Gonzalez finds the film goodhearted and visually assured, though its storytelling slips into caricature and sermonizing. He especially praises the dance sequences and the leads’ convincing chemistry.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/step-up/)

## The AV Club — Scott Tobias

Rating C. 9 August 2006. 

The critic finds the film’s formula breaks down when its perfunctory plot takes over. He singles out the excess of subplots for leaving too little time for the dancing.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/step-up-1798201938)

## Empire — Anna Smith

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2006. 

Smith finds the film predictable and hampered by weak dialogue and acting, but still an appealing guilty pleasure. She singles out the enthusiastic performances and sensational dancing, especially from lead Channing Tatum.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/step-review/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 

Bradshaw dismisses the film as suitable only for tweenie sleepovers. He singles out its narrow appeal to that audience, with no specific praise offered.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/115281/step.up)

## Eye for Film — Chris

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2006. 

The critic finds it formulaic and forgettable, but competent and enjoyable enough for dance fans and teenagers. They single out the energetic combination of ballet and breakdance, supported by a good hip-hop soundtrack.

[Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/step-up-film-review-by-chris)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/step-up.md