Work It (2020)

Streaming Services: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: Work It (2020)

Genre: Comedy, Music

Length: 93 minutes

Rating: TV-14

Production/Distribution: AK Worldwide, Alloy Entertainment, STX Films, Netflix

Director: Laura Terruso

Writer: Alison Peck

Actors: Keiynan Lonsdale, Liza Koshy, Briana Andrade-Gomes, Kalliane Brémault, Sabrina Carpenter, Naomi Snieckus, Michelle Buteau, Drew Ray Tanner, Jordan Fisher, Biana Asilo, Neil Robles, Nathaniel Scarlette, Tyler Hutchings, Indiana Mehta, Jayne Eastwood

Blurb from IMDb: When Quinn Ackerman's admission to the college of her dreams depends on her performance at a dance competition, she forms a ragtag group of dancers to take on the best squad in school...now she just needs to learn how to dance.

Selina’s Point of View:

Work It was a great, feel-good, film. I’ll admit that it definitely followed a recipe, and there was a bit of cringe, but the actors really took it to the next level and made it work.

I said in my Top 20 that I would have wanted to see this film just for Liza Koshy (Escape the Night, Liza on Demand, Freakish), even without anything else that made it look good. I still think that. Liza Koshy is a national treasure. She’s spunky and hilarious and her personality just shines in everything she touches. It’s impossible to not love her.

In this film, her charisma is perfectly complimented by the talent of Sabrina Carpenter (Tall Girl, Milo Murphy’s Law, The Short History of the Long Road), the charm of Jordan Fisher (To All the Boys:P.S. I Still Love You, Rent: Live, Liv and Maddie), and the sass of Keiynan Lonsdale (The Flash, Like.Share.Follow., The Finest Hours). It just all worked on such a level that it had me smiling from the start.

Some of the dance scenes felt a bit weak. The final dance really didn’t hit as hard as it should have. I believe that’s because of some directorial choices that brought me out of the moment. Without that, I think Work It might have been close to perfect.

Although it didn’t reinvent the wheel, I think Work It does make the dance movie more accessible to the newer generation. It really takes into consideration the way the world has changed over the years, and it feels more up-to-date, despite following a recipe.

I’d definitely recommend this movie to fans of the dance genre and older teens.

Cat’s Point of View:

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a roller-coaster for me. My husband had a minor surgery – which was why you haven’t seen me weighing in on the last few movie reviews – but rest assured, all is well. Things have just been different around the house with his post-op restrictions. My daughter has also just started her school year attending high school 100% virtually. I’m very thankful for that opportunity – and tired. Needless to say, I was excited that this was my first review getting back into the swing of things. I needed some wholesome fun. My daughter was even down to watch it with me! We haven’t done that in a while.

Of course, the cast was a factor, and it appealed to my teen. She’s grown up glued to the Disney Channel so seeing the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Jordan Fisher on the screen was exciting for her. She wasn’t the only one. The mouse house has a pretty good track record for showcasing extremely talented youth. Those two are prime examples. They didn’t disappoint here.

While on the topic of cast. Liza Koshy really stood out for me. I loved her as the best friend. She seemed so familiar to me but I’m not sure if I’ve really noticed her in anything before. This was certainly a great movie to highlight more than just her acting talent.

This movie felt a bit like the dance team version of Ice Princess (2005). That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. I just had the feeling of familiarity with how things were going. It felt comfortable. While the story itself might have been about a character getting out of their box, this one certainly stayed in the confines of the tropes it represented.

While not entirely original, it was entertaining and I wouldn’t mind watching it again if my daughter decided that she needed to give it a second look.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 85%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%

Metascore – 58/100

Metacritic User Score – 7.1/10

IMDB Score – 6.2/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

Movie Trailer: