Work It Review: A Wonderful Addition to the Dance-Off Genre

Netflix’s latest attempt to corner the teen dance market may stumble at times, but its can-do spirit will have you on your feet by the end.

Work It isn’t the first dance movie Netflix has released this summer. It is, however, the only dance movie this summer to feature Jordan Fisher as the love interest — so it certainly has a lot going for it!

That’s not all the film has though. This teenage coming-of-age dance comedy also gifts us with a flashy cast of young actors who hold their own, even when the choreography does not.

Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) stars as Quinn, our brilliant yet uncoordinated protagonist, while Jordan Fisher (To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You) gives us a swoony worthy performance as her dance choreographer, Jake Taylor. Liza Koshy keeps things light as Quinn’s best friend Jasmine. And in a truly delightful twist, Keiynan Lonsdale (The Flash) brings the fire as Juilliard, the rival dance team’s diabolical leader.

In the age of Tik-Tok dance challenges, Work It feels right at home on our screen with its fresh-faced dancers and practical dance routines that involve lots of elaborate arm movements and little else.

Sure, not every dance routine is on point, and not every plot point makes total sense. However, this film embraces this hot mess story early on and manages to glide through the messier parts by leaning into its low stakes. Work It does not shy away from using Toronto’s urban landscape and the city’s professional dance community to cultivate a unique aesthetic.

The film also embraces its ensemble of diverse characters. No, not by giving them meaningful dialogue and fleshed-out backstories. This is a dance movie, there’s no time for meaningful small talk here!

What Work It does do is put the members of TBD on the same level as our protagonist and allows them to go on an equally important journey of self-discovery through dance. They are no more a teen cliche than our protagonist and that dedication to creating equally depthless characters is commendable.

This film is at it’s best when the plot is focused on our dysfunctional dance team, rather than Quinn as an individual. Robby demonstrating his sick flipping skills and everyone losing it in response is so incredibly wholesome; as is Jasmine whispering for her team to flank her as she trash-talks Julliard.

These moments lean into the absurd comedy of the situation and are a fun kind of forgettable entertainment. So, you’re best not to look too closely at the plot and enjoy this film for what it is: a good time with some very good looking people.

It’s no secret Jordan Fisher dances away with this film.

The actor and 2017 Dancing with the Stars champion stole the hearts of viewers everywhere when he brought the charming John Ambrose to life for To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Now this man has the audacity to ruin us all over again as he step-ball changes back into our lives as mysterious and sensual dance choreographer Jake Taylor.

And ruin us he does as Fisher injects the film’s seemingly one-note romance with a level of suave and swooning precision that is, frankly, so incredibly hot it’s alarming. He sweeps this film off its feet with the grace of a skilled dancer and never misses a beat as our new Netflix heartthrob.

It is safe to say Jake’s dancing will make you feel things, lots and lots of things.

At first glance, Julliard is your typical teen antagonist. He’s self-absorbed, egotistical, and incredibly petty. Not to mention incredibly two-dimensional to a fault.

However, there’s something so satisfying about watching Keiynan Lonsdale take this over the top role and just go for it. He understands that the character is ridiculous and embraces that chaotic energy by embodying the very essence of Julliard’s fire.

He’s always got an insult locked and loaded for our amusement — and he wears the hell out of that silk tracksuit!

Julliard also refuses to rise above the occasion and become a better person, despite Quinn’s journey to self-discovery pushing him to do so throughout the entire film. He likes who he is and holds onto the parts of himself deemed villainous until the very end. You have to respect that.

He also has a wonderful counterpart sizing him up at every turn in the form of rival Thunderbird dancer, Jasmine Hale. Liza Koshi, like Lonsdale, is a delight to have as part of this ensemble. Not only is she versed in landing a well-timed joke, but she can dance, and dance she does — right into our hearts.

Jasmine’s ambitions as a professional dancer give her enough depth and technique to carry the ensemble on her own, and her crush on steamy mattress salesman Charlie is rather compelling too. One could say Charlie’s shirtless montage might just be the most compelling addition to this film’s plot.

Netflix’s attempt at a dance comedy works with what its got to produce a fun summer movie brimming with energetic teen spirit and fresh talent.

Sabrina Carpenter brings an admirable optimism and style to her generic protagonist, managing to make her discovery of dance feel relatable in a plot that is anything but at times. Carpenter falls effortlessly in line with her co-stars and doesn’t allow Quinn’s incessant need to check off boxes as she moves through life become a habit for this film as well.

Work It might have a flimsy plot and a questionable definition of dance at times. But it also has Jordan Fisher dancing spontaneously on a piano and, dare I say it, that’s enough.

What did you think of Work It? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Work It is now streaming on Netflix.

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