B–Girl (2009/Screen Media DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Feature: C+

 

 

Emily Dell remakes her on 2006 project B-Girl as an expanded feature with mixed results.  The tale of a Brooklyn breakdancer named Angel (Julie Urich) arriving in Los Angeles and trying to be part of a West Coast team.  The script is somewhat formulaic, made choppier by the sudden (and often extended) dance sequences that interrupt the story just when it is getting started up.  The dancing is more interesting than most such films made of late.

 

This includes a cast of other great breakdancers known well within that community (too many to list here) and has some interesting energy about it, especially since this is still a female point-of-view project.  The 2009 remake of Fame (reviewed elsewhere on this site) is among the films to feature these talents and is noted on the case, reminding me that this is more of the dancing a really good remake of Fame would have featured, instead of the restrictive, straight-jacketed mess it turned out to be.

 

Despite being a self-remake, Dell simply does not get the Backstage Musical or Hollywood Musical in general, or this could have been impressive and been everything Fame was not, including the fact that many in the cast are very likable.  At only 88 minutes, this should have been more carefully thought out and instead, we get mixed results.  Maybe next time.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot on what looks like HD video, with softness and motion blur throughout here, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is too bassy and dialogue recording that is not always rich and consistent.  It is watchable, but a little off in image and soundfield.  Extras include Bloopers, Dance Auditions, Dancer Profile and The Battle featurette.  These are all short pieces, but interesting after watching the main program.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo