You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie Review

You got warned: 'Beat the World' is no different than any other Dance movie.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 18, 2011

This isn't some street battle.

If originality is the spice of life, what is the anthesis: the un-original, the repetitive? Certainly something bland, something sour would be the answer. That fits You Got Served: Beat the World quite nicely, actually. It's another Dance movie that features high-flying acrobatics, incredible moves, and a kicking soundtrack, but it is hindered by yet another dime-store plot that's almost too predictable, one that's so cliché that it may as well become a template for future Dance movies, that is if none of the others of this sort have Stepped Up to that task already. You Got Served: Beat the World does what it does and what all the others of its kind do, which is sacrifice any semblance of plot originality in favor a generic paint by numbers story that's flimsy yes but capable of holding up what are some mighty impressive dance routines. No doubt these films thrive on the wonder of watching some of the most physically-gifted people on Earth doing their thing, but even the most incredible dance moves -- maybe the best Dance movie dance moves yet -- can't prop up an entire movie. It's getting to the point with these movies that it might be better to simply scrub the plot altogether and just point the camera at the dancers for 90 minutes. At least that would be more honest.

Smoke but no mirrors.

Three groups of expert dancers are about to converge on Detroit to participate in the lucrative "Beat the World" dance competition, but there's far more than money at stake for each group of globetrotting high-energy movers and shakers. The Detroit-based American squad, nicknamed "Fusion," is led by Yuson (Tyrone Brown). He's trying to infuse free running into the routine to give his crew a leg up on the competition. Meanwhile, his relationship with longtime girlfriend Maya (Mishael Morgan) is coming to a screeching halt; he's too absorbed in the contest, and she's losing faith that he's going to be there for her when she needs him the most. Meanwhile, the Brazilian crew, going by the name "Revolution," is struggling to secure the funds it needs to even make it to America. Ringleader Carlos (Shane Pollard) has mortgaged the team's future on risky bets and shady deals with loan sharks; can he come up with the cash his team needs to make it? Finally "The Flying Steps," a hot, sure-bet German dance crew, is itself in a state of turmoil. Crew leader Eric (Christian Loclair) is a three-time solo dance champ, but the group's voted him out of the position of lead choreographer and installed his ex-girlfrend Nina (Stephanie Nguyen) into that pivotal role. Unfortunately for The Flying Steps, the wounded Eric might not play nice if he doesn't get his way. With trouble brewing and each crew leader on the hot seat, which will put it all together and win the Beat the World competition?

At least there's a hint of something different here, even if it does involve simply rearranging the basics of the plot. No longer is the "big dance competition" being held between schools or local groups; this one is a worldwide affair, though other than a few accents and several scenes "supposedly" taking place in Brazil and Germany, there's nothing here that sets the movie apart from any others. There's the typical array of good guys/bad guys within each group, but when it comes right down to it, most are background players who simply hold ground while the stars do their thing. All of the primaries go through the movie only wanting to better themselves through dance, which of course revolves only around winning the prize money, not actually bettering themselves in any other appreciable way. OK, so dancers need to make a living, too, but for the audiences's sake allow them to learn something about themselves beyond the generic love angle clichés and "schooling" the bad guys on the dance floor. It's a globetrotting affair in name only, really; the fact that some of the dancers are from Germany and Brazil really has no bearing on the story at large, but give You Got Served: Beat the World a passing effort grade for trying.

So there's nothing that thematically sets You Got Served: Beat the World apart from the crowd, so the film is gambling its entire fate on the moves and choreography of its dancers. Ultimately, that's what dance movie audiences want to see; when ticket sales dwindle, maybe creativity will go up, but until then, don't expect these movies to do anything but try and one-up the competition. Does Beat the World succeed in that one little measly regard? Well, only the true Dance movie fan who knows all of the moves, characters, and styles as previously seen in the other, similar films can be the judge of that, but there's no denying that this movie has others like it equalled or beat in terms of its relentlessly high energy, slick direction, kinetic dance routines, and kicking soundtrack. Beat the World beats the competition hands down in terms of its eagerness to please Dance movie fans; it features dance performances that are second-to-none, though maybe not first amongst all. If nothing else, it's an exhilarating experience of sight and sound; Director Robert Adetuyi (Stomp the Yard) certainly knows his Dance movie craft, and Beat the World is a refined, polished, and edgy Dance movie that hits all the notes a movie like this needs to hit.

You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The movie might be nothing to write home about, but Sony's 1080p Blu-ray transfer of You Got Served: Beat the World is a different story. This is a flat-out gorgeous transfer that's darn near perfect, and if it weren't for a handful of soft-focus shots, it would have scored as an elite transfer. Colors are vibrant and natural, with eye-popping shades of red, green, blue, and other assorted hues playing with a consistently pleasing appearance. Fine detail is extraordinary, with the transfer revealing the finest textures in clothing, faces, brick and concrete façades, and the like with remarkable ease and a natural filmic appeal that's made possible by the retention of a light but critical layer of film grain. Blacks levels are superb, skin textures are natural, and the image is free of any distracting negatives such as banding or blocking. This is a wonderfully handsome, top-notch effort from Sony, just as expected.

You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

You Got Served: Beat the World delivers a kicking DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This track offers as much raw energy as the dance moves it compliments. It's packed with thunderous volume, incredible clarity, wonderful spacing, a powerful low end, and excellent surround support, and that's just to describe the opening title music. Fortunately, the remainder of the music -- and Beat the World is almost always blaring out some aggressive beats -- follows suit, delivering one energized track after another. This lossless soundtrack also incorporates some nice little ambient effects throughout, too; chirping birds, background restaurant music, and passing traffic all do a fine job of pulling the listener into the film. Rounded out by pitch-perfect dialogue reproduction, You Got Served: Beat the World may be described as a sonic show-stopper.

You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

You Got Served: Beat the World arrives on Blu-ray with two brief supplements of note.

• The Making of You Got Served: Beat the World (1080p, 8:21): Cast and crew talk up the plot; the characters; the dance choreography; the combining of various dance, Hip Hop, and parkour elements; and the film's physical and dramatic authenticity.
• 3RUN: The Team Behind the Film (1080p, 6:59): 3RUN athletes discuss the theories behind their sport, their training, and their participation in the film.
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.
• BD-Live.

You Got Served: Beat the World Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

You Got Served: Beat the World isn't a particularly good movie. The dance moves are hot and the actors really know how to get it on, but they're left with a completely superfluous script and a story that hasn't changed since the first dance movie came out and isn't likely to evolve in the future. The excitement of the routines is completely canceled out by the dullness of the plot, sure to leave most audiences wondering why the movie was even made. It's a true case of "seen one, seen 'em all," and only the most ardent Dance movie fans will find value in this admittedly well-made but otherwise pointless motion picture. Despite the lackluster movie, Sony has pulled out all the stops, providing this Blu-ray with gorgeous video, a kicking lossless soundtrack, and a few extras. Hardcore Dance movie fans are encouraged to buy; others would be smart to stay away.