Make It Happen
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Tessa Thompson, Riley Smith, Ashley Roberts (II)
Dir: Darren Grant
Rating: 3/5
Haling from a small town in Indiana Lauryn has aspirations to be a dancer spurred on by the memory of her dancer mother she auditions for the Chicago School of Music and Dance, despite her brother's doubts that she would be excepted.
After a disastrous audition, failing to impress the panel with her hoodie-clad dance routine, Lauryn cannot face the humiliation of returning home and finds herself working in a burlesque bar in the city.
The club proves to be a place of conflict and self-discovery, helping Lauryn to realize that even though plans may change, dreams never do.
Straight away people will recognise the almost identical plot-line to Coyote Ugly where Piper Perabo, an aspiring singer, finds herself working in a New York bar while here aspiring dancer finds herself working in a Chicago bar.
Unfortunately for many fans of this genre of film Make It Happen is totally predictable as well as being cliched we really have seen it all before.
However Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a rising star and her charm and screen presence really does help this movie in a major way. The stage routines are well choreographed but they will not wow like Step Up for example.
But it's easy to see that Make It Happen tries to put a new spin on an old story Lauryn is not a school girl and it's not about two people finding their feelings for one another through their dancing instead it's about a young woman who has to find herself and let go of, whilst coming to terms with, her past in order to move forward.
And for trying to be different it must be applauded. The supporting cast do not offer anything better that solid performances but the character of Dana should have been explored further, there was a pregnancy sub-plot that was cut, which would have added a further dimension to this film, so would have a more fierce rivalry with Carmen.
It seems cinema audiences can't escape from the dance movie as they have dominated the big screen over the last twelve months and while there is nothing particularly wrong with Make It Happen it lacks originality, a more creative directing angle and routines that really pack a punch.
Despite this it is an enjoyable almost ninety minutes and fans of this genre really should give it a try even if it's just for Winstead who really does have the potential to become a big star.
Make It Happen is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw