The Next Step (Musical)
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B-
Usually, Musicals are only made and handled by the major
studios or maybe their smaller boutique labels, but occasionally you get a hit
like Dirty Dancing (1987, reviewed elsewhere on this site) that
qualifies. However, you sometimes get
an independently produced film in the genre that goes by without notice and
Christian Faber’s The Next Step (1997) is one of those rare films. While Chris Columbus recently disemboweled Rent
(2005) in unthinkable ways, this film actually tends to capture the rawness and
spirit of the same New York without Columbus’ pretensions and inexperience.
It is not because Columbus made the film too late or
post-9/11/01, but because he has no idea what he is doing in the genre. Faber likes the music, the dancing, the
genre and the people, all of which shows throughout. The cast includes many future stars in front of and behind the
scenes of many key stage Musicals on Broadway, so fans will find this DVD a
must. The box alone credits Denise Faye
as having been in the film version of Chicago (also reviewed on this
site), but I wondered if even IMDB could tell us al the stage work the cast has
done. I don’t think so.
There are openly gay characters here to, without any
pretension. The only other thing that
can be said of this sincere attempt at a Backstage Musical Drama is that it
does get unintentionally campy, partly around sexuality and its relationship to
age. This is not always handled well
and is not easy to covert to begin with.
Along with some unintended moments of howling, The Next Step does
have plenty of intended storytelling and entertainment to offer. Too bad Chris Columbus did not take notes.
The letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image is colorful and well shot
by Zack Winestine, but the transfer is undermined by edge enhancement and Video
Black that is problematic. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 sound is simple stereo at best.
Extras include a behind the scenes featurette with interviews, original
trailer and a really good audio commentary track by Faber, writer/producer
Aaron Reed and actor/producer Taylor Nichols.
It is very interesting and informative, making for one of Pathfinder
Pictures best DVDs to date.
- Nicholas Sheffo
