Stomp the Yard (2007) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2007
Director: Sylvain White
Cast: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Brian White, Darrin Henson, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 8 January 2007
Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes 13 seconds

The Movie Review

Stomp the Yard film still 1


STOMP The YARD
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Sometimes a knowledge over something being presented in a movie is highly important. And in addition to that when the filmmakers put something different in the opening scene that in a sort of way tricks the audience's expectation, that's just a regrettable misleader. But that's why you should watch a trailer and read a review first. As in the case with Stomp the Yard, if you blind buy the ticket or the video without knowing what you're into, your knowledge will be vital.

Stomp the Yard is about a form of dance called Stepping. It's not a tap dance, Stepping is a dance that relies heavily on footwork and other sounds made by other body parts, a human percussion if I may say. I recall Stepping is also featured in Road Trip (in year 2000) and in a school-themed movie in the 80s, but I can't remember the title. Anyway, Thanks for the superb performances of all the dance crews from each fraternities and sororities, so perhaps an in-depth knowledge is not badly needed after all.

Stomp the Yard revolves around the life of DJ Williams (Columbus Short) who has reached rock bottom. He has to move with his uncle and aunt to attend Truth University where his recently died brother supposed to be and he also has to work part-time as a gardener. Conflicts soon arise between DJ and the Mu Gamma Psi fraternity when DJ has a crush on a girl named April Palmer (Meagan Good) who is the girlfriend of Mu Gamma Psi hotshot Grant (Darrin Henson). After performing his dance moves and defeating Grant, people starts to notice him. Consecutively, the leader of the Mu Gamma Psi himself personally asks DJ to join the fraternity. Meanwhile another fraternity, which is Mu Gamma Psi's biggest rival Theta Nu Theta also asks him to join theirs. Which fraternity will DJ Williams pledge? His next move will decide the fate of the two fraternities.

It's amazing how fun learning a new culture can be for moviegoers through watching a motion picture. Although one might expect it to be another Hip Hop movie similar to the 2004 box office You Got Served, but after seeing how the actors/dancers/street dancers perform their stepping routine, you will start to appreciate it. I know I do, because for me it somehow resembles how martial arts students exercise. So a choreographer holds a major position in stimulating the audience's interest and for that credit goes to Dave Scott who also choreographed for the great dance battle scenes in You Got Served, which also means that you will get to see a few exact same moves in Stomp the Yard besides seeing Columbus Short and Meagan Good again. But what I admire is the camerawork, especially at the opening dance scene, it's stylish and innovative. When you see it for the first time, no doubt that you'll gaze at the "battle" intensely. Plus, the colour palette used in Stomp the Yard is rich and full of invigorating ones.

Talk about similarities, boy do I find many of them. The dead brother scene, the tie match, the betrayal of an ex-member who is previously disrespected by our protagonists, the dance moves, the opening battle scene (although I'm grateful for it), and some others that I can't remember what. What I'm saying is while the Steppers in this dance movie step into a whole new excellent level, the writer also stepped alright, but he's just seem to simply circle around in the world of clichés. You could safely go to the bathroom or even doze off a bit when the dance is not in the house.

And so, like I said before, the dance moves are wicked. Both the hip hop and the stepping. You might want to check this movie out if you are into dance and stuff, it's just that my advice is to watch it for the dance and not for the drama, plus if you are probably a fan of Chris Brown who makes his acting debut through this dance film. Stomp the Yard reminds me of a 2004 song--one of my late-nite fave songs--from R. Kelly titled "Happy People" which one part of the lyric goes like: "Ladies and Gentlemen, this here is another one for the Steppers,
DJ Wayne Williams put the record on!"