Step Sisters (2018)

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

'STEP SISTERS': Four Stars (Out of Five)A dance comedy about an ambitious black college student that's forced to teach Greek stepping to a bunch of party obsessed white sorority girls. It was directed by Charles Stone III (who also helmed the 2002 comedy musical 'DRUMLINE'), and it was written by Chuck Hayward (who's also served as a regular writer on the TV series 'DEAR WHITE PEOPLE'). The film was released by Netflix, through it's streaming site, and it stars Megalyn Echikunwoke, Lyndon Smith, Eden Sher, Gage Golightly, Marque Richardson, Naturi Naughton, Matt McGorry, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Robert Curtis Brown. I found it to be really (surprisingly) clever and insightful, especially for a 'dance film'!Jamilah (Echikunwoke) is the president of her sorority, captain of their champion step dance crew, and a liaison to the college dean (Brown). With the exception of a troubled relationship with her mother (Ralph), Jamilah's life is turning out just the way she always wanted it to, and she hopes to attend Harvard Law School next. Then the (mostly) white girls from Sigma Beta Beta embarrass the whole school with their hard partying ways. Jamilah is ordered to teach these girls how to step dance, in order to save the school's reputation, otherwise her Harvard plans may be put into jeopardy. I almost didn't watch this movie because I expected it to be another clichéd, cheesy dance flick. It's really well written though, and surprisingly insightful (in an often comedic way) about race relations. This film oddly shows the negative affect racial bigotry can have on (otherwise) highly privileged white girls though. The movie is clever, touching, and surprisingly inspiring too. Echikunwoke is really affective in the lead, and Smith is fantastic as her nemesis. The whole movie is just a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I'd even compare it to the film 'DEAR WHITE PEOPLE' in quality (I haven't seen the TV show though).

The story was painfully fraught with cliche, and most of the acting was wooden and contrived particularly through the first half of the movie.It did bring it home for a feel good, if predictable, ending. I'm not sure I agree that the second half was "good," as other reviewers have suggested, but I wouldn't argue with it being "better" than the first half.

Its like every other dance/gymnastic/singing movie. You DON'T watch them for the plot... or script... or acting... or anything else except the action numbers. The step scenes are great and everything else.. well I loved hating every minute of it.

The movie Step Sisters on Netflix is a masterpiece of terrible cinema.The film tells the story of a black girl teaching a white sorority how to dance like black girls. It manages to mash together every bad trope from the 'Dance competition' movies from the early 2000's(think Bring It On) with cringingly terrible acting, a ridiculous plot, excellent dancing, and unintentionally hilarious quotability("YOU NEED TO MAKE THEIR ASS HAIR STAND UP!!!").This is all served alongside a large helping of performative 'wokeness', uncomfortable, non-funny racial humor and unfocused social justice 'lessons'. ( For instance, a large part of the plot is about the impact of cultural appropriation of black traditions by white people, but then also features a dance number with a bunch of black women dressed as generic Asian women in silk robes and fans without blinking an eye.)Please note I am making no comment on actual cultural appropriation, race, or social justice. The movie tries to make these issues a major plot point, and fails spectacularly. The only major lesson the movie ends up conveying is "Race, culture, and upbringing are unimportant as long as you are rich and pretty'I HIGHLY recommend it, if only as a unintended parody of the current 'everything is offensive to the point where we cant tell what is actually offensive" climate, but also as a gem of cinematic garbage that at times approaches The Room in terms of terribleness and watchability