Movie Title: Stomp the Yard
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
Year: 2007
Stomp the Yard official site: http://www.stomptheyard.com/
Street dancing… ah it just felt so hot thinking about it. Right, I always felt street dancing is hotter than any of those ballroom dancing. Why? I sorta think street dancing are more natural, following the beat, freestyle. Everyone have their own different moves. Unlike ballroom dance which gives me the impression it was rather fake, the costume is too over, the smiles is so fake and ugly like you wonder why they smile at times and it felt like they are pretending to be someone they are not. In short… just not my cuppa tea.
Similar to You’ve Got Served, Stomp the Yard starts of hitting the audience with a pumped up street dance scene. A dancing competition is kicking on at one of the undergrounds in Los Angeles. Everyone is pretty much hyped up as it is quite a big thing. Goon Squad, headed by DJ (Columbus Short) and brother Duron (Chris Brown) has been eyeing on this team on the stage which have practically defeated 2 other rival team.
When they won again, Goon Squad head up to the stage to challenge them. A bucket is passed around as they take in bets. Goon Squad drop a roll of cash in to the bucket and the best part starts. Both group starts to show their moves where everyone goes head to head including the girls. It’s been made obvious the two groups didn’t like one another. When the audiences announce that Goon Squad wins the round, the other group was pretty much angry and challenge them for another round of dancing by throwing more money in to the bucket.
DJ was excited and quickly agreed. Duron on the other hand was happy that they won and wanted to leave with the money they earned. DJ then persuade Duron by telling him that they can’t win without him. Duron initially rejected the idea, however he didn’t want to leave his brother behind hence he decided to do it. Before they go for the challenge, Duron reminded DJ that it’s a teamwork and ask DJ to stop thinking it’s all only about him as they work in group.
The challenge gets more exciting. The crowd was cheering like crazy. Everyone is enjoying what they are watching. As the challenge gets more heated and personal, Duron jump out from behind and pull a great move and led Goon Squad to another victory. As the battle of dances ends, they all decided to walk home.
The Goon Squad was walking home when they were stopped by the group they defeated. They wants their money back. DJ refuse to give them the money back and they all fight. The fight ended badly where the leader of the other group pulls out a gun a fires at Duron. Duron died on the spot. While everybody ran away, DJ was stun crying and hugging over Duron’s body. DJ was then arrested for the fight.
After Duron’s death, DJ’s mother decides to send him to Atlanta to study. DJ first arrived at Atlanta where his uncle, Nate (Harry J. Lennix) picked him up. When they reach Nate’s house, Nate’s wife, Jackie (Valarie Pettiford) welcome him and showed him around. They even offer him to visit them when he could as DJ would be staying in the dorm. Before leaving, Nate warned DJ that his opportunity to study in Truth University isn’t an easy one as Nate used lots of his contacts to get him a place there.
On the registration day, DJ tries to runaway but Nate manage to stop him and send him to the university. Forcefully, DJ went to queue up to register. Just as he was looking around, he spotted April (Meagan Good). He then leaves the line trying to catch up on her. When he lost sight of her, he tries to get back to his place and this cost and argument. He was too late to notice that April saw the argument.
After registering, DJ headed to his dorm room, whereby he share a room with Rich Brown (Ne-Yo). Rich told him the rules of the room and then invited DJ to a party later but was rejected by DJ. DJ then went out for a walk and saw the Theta Nu Theta having a step show. It was something new to DJ as he have never seen anything like this before. He finds it rather funny as they refer to steps like that as a type of dance. Things was going on fine until Theta’s rival fraternity, Mu Gamma Xi came in to the picture and steals the show.
As the Mu Gamma Xi is marching in, DJ saw April and decides to chase after her. Not noticing he was disturbing the Gamma’s march, DJ almost have a fight with Grant (Darrin Dewwit Henson). Leader of the Mu Gamma Xi, Zeke (Laz Alonso) then warns DJ and they continue to march right up to the Theta’s show making it clear that they are the 7 time defending champion of the National Step show.
DJ finally have a chance to talk to April only to know that she already have a boyfriend. The jealous Grant then over and warn DJ to stay out from him and April. That night, Rich and his friends went down to a local club and invited DJ along. It was one of those nights where people from other cities represents their city to dance.
Being a senior and his hate for DJ, Grant kept picking on DJ. After picking up on DJ, Grant head to the dance floor and sexy dance with some girls. Coincidently, April walks in and saw what Grant was doing. April was furious and Grant tries to explain to her that he is just dancing. April make it clear to Grant that she dislike what he was doing. Grant was then summoned to the dance floor. As he is walking to the dance floor, DJ walked up to April and told her she doesn’t have to be treated like that. Grant ran back to ask DJ to leave her girl alone when he saw them talking.
DJ then take this opportunity to challenge Grant at the dance floor. After Grant finish performing, DJ shows his move, mocking everyone other contestant including Grant. The crowd went crazy and was cheering for DJ. Even Rich is not shy to mention that DJ is his roommate. Grant dares not challenge back as he know he could not top DJ’s moves.
The next day, while working for his uncle, DJ was approached by Grant, Zeke and 2 other Mu Gamma Xi members. Zeke wanted to talk to DJ. However, DJ claimed he is busy with work and rejected Zeke’s offer to chat up. Zeke then ordered his boys to do DJ’s work while he and DJ have a little talk. Zeke was impressed with DJ’s moves and wanted to recruit him as one of the Mu Gamma Xi’s member. DJ refuses Zeke’s invitation and insults Zeke. The Mu Gamma Xi gang then walks of leaving DJ to continue his work.
The Theta Nu Theta members noticed DJ’s talent as well. They then requested Sylvester (Brian J. White) to recruit DJ as a member as well. Unlike the Mu Gamma Xi, Sylvester make it clear to DJ that he could send in his form and he will be reviewed to see if he fits to join. DJ asked Sylvester if this is the best he could do as the Mu Gamma Xi gave him a better offer. Sylvester then ask DJ to join the Mu Gamma Xi if he thinks they strive a better deal. Sylvester then explains to DJ about brotherhood and how they all work as a team.
Later that evening, DJ was mowing the lawn when he suddenly notice April jogging by. He tries to get near to April not knowing it will scare her. He then tries to ask April out for dinner but was quickly rejected when she says she have to do tutoring. DJ then went to the tutoring reception and asked what subject April is tutoring and he took up the subject. When the tutoring is almost done, DJ asked April to dinner again. This time they make a bet to answer any question about the subject. If DJ could answer the question, April will go dinner with him.
DJ manage to answer the question and April brought DJ to this local hang out place where they dine. DJ did mention about the Mu Gamma Xi and Theta Nu Theta trying to recruit him after sawing him dance. April was happy for him and told him to check out the Heritage Hall to understand more about the fraternity. After dinner, they dance and ended up kissing each other when April pull away later on.
The next day, DJ passed by the Heritage Hall and walked in to see what it is all about. There he saw a lot of pictures dedicated to the men and women who were in fraternities and sorority. That afternoon, the Mu Gamma Xi are having a ceremony where pledges are made in to members. As the Mu Gamma Xi’s new members are revealed, the Theta Nu Theta members came interrupting the Mu Gamma Xi’s ceremony. The Theta Nu Theta new members also revel themselves. Everyone of them introducing their new nickname. DJ’s nickname is Knucklehead and does some moves to hint to the Mu Gamma Xi that their title is now in jeopardy.
While tutoring, April notices that DJ is now a member of the Theta Nu Theta when she saw his jacket. DJ noted that he notice a lot of things about her as well. April didn’t believe DJ and asked him what is her favourite colour. DJ figure it was green since April always wear green eyeshadow, a green stone on her ring and he even guessed April car is green in colour. That night, Grant asked April to dine in an expensive restaurant. There, he wanted to propose to April. Confused and wanting to find out if Grant loves her, she asked him what is his favourite colour. He picked all the wrong guesses. April was almost in tears while Grant asked if this has anything to do with DJ.
When April kept quiet and kept apologizing, Grant insulted April and even called her ungrateful. April then leaves Grant. Right after she broke up with Grant, he went to look for DJ and they both then got together. A few days later, Grant and the Mu Gamma Xi members were laughing at DJ when they saw him mowing the lawn. Grant quickly kept quiet when he saw April jump on the mower and hug DJ tightly.
The Theta and the Gamma are both having their secret rehearsals as the competition is near. Sylvester is trying his very best to teach his members the moves. One day while practicing in an empty and abandon pool, DJ’s move was secretly recorded by the Gamma’s. Grant decided to keep the record and study DJ’s move to put it to use in their dance coordination.
On the Theta side, the members spirit is getting lower and lower when they can not follow up to the steps and thinks it is difficult. DJ then teaches them his street styles. When Sylvester sees that, he got angry and tells him that stepping is not a rap video. DJ disagrees and told Sylvester that this is what dancing is all about. Sylvester then challenge DJ and his boys. At the challenge, both teams are about to even up when DJ decides to do a solo thinking it would lead his team to victory. Instead, they lost because it is a team event. His team was angry and disappointed with him. Right after the event, he remembered what Duron used to tell him. DJ then apologizes to the team. Sylvester and the boys welcome DJ back and even allows him to teach them a few new steps to be used in the dance moves.
While studying, DJ promise to bring April to try the best fried chicken in town. He then drive her to his Nate’s house for lunch. There DJ introduced April to his uncle and auntie. Nate and Jackie was surprised when April told them her mother passed away 5 years ago while his dad is the Dean of Truth University.
On the other side, the Gamma’s are researching on DJ and found out what happened in Los Angeles. They presented their research to the school board whereby they all agree to suspend DJ from school. DJ then receives a phone call from the Dean, Dr. Palmer (Allan Louis). Dr. Palmer make DJ a deal telling him he could continue to further his studies if he stop seeing April. However, DJ disagrees.
The Theta’s was upset over the fact that DJ is leaving them just 3 days before the championship. Dr. Palmer on the other hand told April the truth about DJ’s background. When DJ breaks the news to his auntie and uncle, they were shocked and speechless. They then told DJ the truth where it was partly their fault. It turns out Dr. Palmer and aunt Jackie used to date each other until Nate showed up.
On the day of the championship, Jackie went to look for Palmer about the deal he offered DJ. Palmer told Jackie that he didn’t want her daughter to make the same mistake as Jackie’s. Their conversation was overheard by April. Angry and disappointed, April told his father she is walking out of his life.
Dr. Palmer then agrees to reinstate DJ as he fear of loosing his daughter. That afternoon, DJ and April went to the National Step Championship. Both the Theta’s and Gamma’s are so close to winning. They both manage a tie. For the tie-breaker, the team will have to choose a team member to get head to head with one another.
The Theta chose DJ as his street dance knowledge could help lead them. Grant step up stating he could win as he already analysed DJ’s moves and told Zeke he could win. It was a heated competition. Just when the Theta is doing great, Grant did the exact routine DJ did in the tape. DJ was surprised but he quickly pulled out Duron’s glove from his pocket moving his body backwards and doing Duron’s best move which was shown earlier in the movie.
The Theta’s won the championship for the very first time. The Theta and April hugged DJ. The scene is then captured and appears on the wall at Heritage Hall.
If you really ask me, I would say there isn’t much plot to the movie. Seriously… it is one of those back to basics type of story. Love story… fall in love with rivals girl.. then get together.. wins championship.. still together… yeay.. ending. See… it’s kind of typical. I could practically pick out 100’s of movies with plots like this. What really interest me is actually the dance moves. Right… and to me, this is what that differentiate one dance movie from another.
Of course it’s none other than their dance choreography. What is best about this movie, both the lead actor and the rival are actual dancers and choreographers. Hence the dancing are believable and seriously good. What impress me is they really do act well especially Grant’s role. He really manage to make me think he is one bad person.
Nevertheless, ignore everything else and just focus on the dancing. You will tend to find it more entertaining and worthwhile. If you fail to concentrate, this movie is just another don’t bother to watch movie.