Synopsis
When a hip hop violinist busking in the New York subway
encounters a classical dancer on scholarship at the Manhattan Conservatory of
the Arts, sparks fly. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a
common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives
for.
Ruby Adams is a dancer from the Midwest on scholarship,
living her first day in New York City. Johnny Blackwell is a British musician,
playing for money in the subway tunnels. Ruby's world is classical and
disciplined; Johnnie's is improvisational and street smart. When a hip-hop
battle gone wrong throws these two artists together, they immediately clash but
can't deny it when sparks begin to fly. Their lives quickly get entangled in
the pitfalls that come with competing in New York City. With the help of a
dynamic dance crew called The SwitchSteps, Ruby and Johnnie must find a way to
save Ruby's scholarship and keep Johnnie from being deported. In an
action-packed extravaganza combining cutting edge hip-hop with contemporary and
classical dance, the two must navigate their opposing worlds and prepare for a
competition where winning or losing will change their lives forever. HIGH
STRUNG is elevated by standout supporting performances from veteran actors Jane
Seymour, Paul Freeman and Maia Morgenstern and features an original soundtrack
of boundary-breaking commercial tracks blending styles of music in a way that
already has the dance industry and social media talking.
The film's original
take on familiar musical genres sets it apart from prior dance franchises: Step
Up and Street Dance. It's brought to viewers by Broadway stars Michael and
Janeen Damian and top choreographer Dave Scott (Step Up 3D; Stomp the Yard;
resident choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance; guest choreographer on
Dancing with the Stars) and introduces the breathtakingly talented Keenan Kampa
(Russia's Mariinsky Ballet's first American dancer) and Nicholas Galitzine (The
Beat Beneath My Feet) alongside 62 of some of the World's most exciting and
original dancers from London, Paris, L.A. and New York.
Ruby is a dancer who goes to a Performing Arts School in
Manhattan. She meets a violinist named Johnnie who performs in the subway. When
his attention is distracted his violin is taken. She tries to help him and she
learns he is an illegal alien. She learns that there's competition wherein a
dancer performs with a string musician and the winner gets scholarship which
can get him a student visa. He initially balks at it but later decides to give
it a try and he brings in a dance crew he knows to help them.
Director Michael Damian does not bring any special spark to the film, but he recognizes the talents of his cast and allows them to shine. It isn’t hard to predict how the story will end, but there are worse ways to while away a couple of hours than to spend time with these gifted players.
ReplyDeleteWhat it loses in thematic richness, the un-cynical High Strung makes up for in pure joy.
ReplyDeleteStunning ensemble dancing actually shows a correlation between hip-hop and classical ballet.
The story is energized not only by its dance and music numbers but by the chemistry of the two leads.
As predictable as the candles-and-roses-strewn loft where the couple’s matching pouts first collide.
ReplyDeleteDirector Michael Damian does not bring any special spark to the film, but he recognizes the talents of his cast and allows them to shine.
The real-life ballerina Kampa has a nice, natural presence and Galitzine's got the pouty artiste vibe down, his air violin technique proves unconvincing. In the end, you'll either succumb to the silliness of it all or cheer Johnny B. on to his green card or, more likely, be in desperate need of your own exit visa.
ReplyDeleteParents need to know that High Strung is a celebration of the artistic life, looking at the hard work, perseverance, and dedication that make musicians and dancers become great, whether they're classically trained or hip-hop street performers.
ReplyDeleteCharacters don't always make the smartest decisions, but many grow and learn key lessons over the course of the movie.
This entertaining display of talent mixes classical and contemporary music and dance techniques, exposing enthusiasts of either one to the other genre.
ReplyDeleteIt helps that the stars are genuinely artistically talented.
As a dance teacher puts it, "Each time you conquer a step, there will always be another challenge waiting. It's a long road, it never ends”. Such a nice quote!
There is an unintentionally hilarious moment at the start of “High Strung” in which a shirtless male violinist (Nicholas Galitzine) plays music furiously in bed after waking up.
ReplyDeleteThe movie contains romance, high-energy dancing with both classical and contemporary, fantastic music, and the theme of pursuing a dream. The acting in the movie is excellent.
When the film opens globally, it hopes to catch the same audience that made the Step Up movies modest hits. It could definitely tap that audience, even with its failings.
ReplyDeleteHigh Strung seems to be aiming a little higher than Step Up. It would like to be a 21st century Fame or Flashdance, but it doesn’t have as intriguing an assortment of characters.