You Got Served (2004) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

U.S. 2003
Director: Chris Stokes
Cast: Omarion Grandberry, Marques Houston, Meagan Good, Jennifer Freeman, Steve Harvey, Jarell Boog
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: January 30th 2004
Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes

The Movie Review

You Got Served film still 1


YOU GOT SERVED
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Super Duper Stylin' and Super Duper Hoppin'! That's what You Got Served is. Even though YGS may have failed in almost every major aspects of one could expect from a great motion picture, but what YGS has in store for the fans and for what it is (a hip hop dance movie), is more than enough. You Got Served is simply... awesome.

However, by Awesome, it means You Got Served can only be appreciated by those who dig street dancing and Hip Hop. And by Awesome, it also means that you are willing to overlook other general movie elements as well.

But first, let me lay it out for you the storyline. This dance movie revolves around the brotherhood bond between David (Omarion) and Elgin (Marques). They are the leaders of their crew in a relatively humble neighbourhood in Los Angeles, U.S. From time to time they always nail other competitors in a street dancing competition held in Mr. Rad's "house" (played by Steve Harvey). One day some rich kids from Orange County, headed by the snobby Wade (Christopher Jones), challenge them for a 5-grand worth of money and eventually Wade's crew beat the odds. In desperate effort to get the money back, David and Elgin are working as drug delivery boys for the drug lord Emerald. Things got messed up when David does something that Elgin sees it as an ultimate betrayal. Slowly separated, David and Elgin form their own crews, and they now will battle each other as well as other competitors in the biggest dance battle with the biggest prize a.k.a The Big Bounce.

Storyline is as you might have already guessed, is the weak element of this dance flick, it's just there to provide a plot to put on some dance moves. However, this time, it is quite decent. Nothing much to be criticized or praised from it. It's just ordinary, even TV Show could provide more intricate plot. But do we really need an intricate plot? I don't, but if you do, then the story alone will disappoint you. Luckily for the filmmakers, the opening scene is the dance battles which are already breathtaking ones, they amaze the audience from the beginning, and cue to a even more amazing dance scenes later in the movie. Sadly from then on, the acting, the chemistry, the dialogue will quite bore you. Until, of course, the dance scenes are on the screen again.

Yes the acting is not something to be bragged about, although the lead actors are not wooden and are not over-the-top. The chemistry between David and Liyah (Jennifer Freeman) doesn't ooze out from their dialogue, they look more of good friends than lovers. However, for the sake of dance department, hiring B2K music group (Omarion, Raz B, J-Boog and Lil' Fizz) is an excellent choice. Moreover, at least, You got Served does not trying to be smart by putting some useless and twisted twist. The end is anything but new and everybody could easily tell what the end result will be, but...the scene before the ending credits role, is the biggest upside from YGS.

In 2004 the opening scene and the big bounce battle scene made me almost drooling, and now in 2009, upon seeing it again to review the movie, I still almost drooled but now with more amazement to them, man they're still awesome to watch. The awe-effects linger in my mind just like when I saw very cool martial arts movies from Bruce Lee or early films of Jet Li. If I were still a teenager, it's certain the disc would have scratches all over it from being spun too much on my video player. Plus, as for my personal benefit, I got to see cameo appearance from the dude who does the Robot Dance, which I first knew him from a viral video that I accidentally found on the net years and years ago. His name is David Bernal from Santa Ana, California, or better known as Elsewhere. And his performance in the video from Kollaboration 2001 annual talent show was quite a big hit on the internet [you can see him on upper-left image below].

All things considered, for a musical movie, You Got Served deserves high star rating, but for moviegoers who don't like the concept and even dislike (or at the very least uninterested) the dance being presented here, then the overall stars would be a 2-er or even 1.5-er, or a simple "Avoid It" category, there are no other redeeming factors for your hard-earned money spent for the tickets (or the video). Nevertheless I will give a special dance score just for You Got Served and it's absolutely a rock-solid ***** stars. If you like dance moves and appreciate highly artistic and creative choreography plus skilled dancers combined with great soundtracks (which never permit you to yawn), no doubt, You Got Served will amuse you. Word.