Stomp the Yard
Screen Gems | Release Date: January 12, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
44
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
16
Negative:
4
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerManny Lewis
The ads for Stomp The Yard play like a music video and, thus, they are not misleading; the film consists of a series of phenomenal dance sequences, all highly entertaining and expertly choreographed. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
The results are corny beyond measure. Yet there's something sweet about them, in part because there's something sweet about hearing the line "Congratulations! Why didn't you tell me you pledged?" outside the realm of comedy. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
For his part, Short, another pop choreographer, sounds like Vin Diesel, but he moves like a bee. When he dances, he makes sure every girl in the theater goes home stung. Read full review
63
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
Stomp the Yard hasn't an original bone in its fierce, sweaty body, but explosive choreography, high-energy moves and a generous helping of hot, frequently shirtless guys offer plenty of entertainment. Read full review
60
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Short is a professional choreographer, and his dancing seems unstuck in time. How he can break his movements down to such small elements, keep them so precise and in such rigorous rhythm, yet keep the whole thing on track and moving forward with Nureyev's beauty and discipline is something to see. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The shallow frat-on-frat rivalry and the poor-boy-loves-rich-girl subplot don't mean a thing. But the stepping does got that swing. Read full review
58
Baltimore SunChris Kaltenbach
The movie lives and dies on the energy of stepping. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
As the central character in this musical melodrama about step dancing in black fraternities, Short displays an uncanny dramatic sensibility to go with the eye-catching athleticism of his dance moves. Read full review
50
VarietyJustin Chang
The dancing is more dynamic than the plotting in Stomp the Yard, an energetic if formulaic underdog tale about warring black fraternities specializing in an intensely competitive style of step dancing. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleJosh Rosenblatt
Won't ever be accused of breaking new ground; it's too busy entertaining to worry about being original. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Far too long for a movie so unabashedly formulaic, Sylvain White's drama about a kid from L.A. who discovers the world of "stepping" at an Atlanta university uses a propulsive soundtrack and flashy dance sequences to draw attention away from wooden acting and a cliched plot. Read full review
50
The New York TimesRachel Saltz
A strange and at times strangely compelling mix of black fraternity recruitment video and inspirational tale about a hip-hop boy in a stepping world. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
So, yes, the story is bland and predictable and disappointing. But here's the thing about dance movies (or cheerleading movies, or even marching band movies): All that really matters is the action. Read full review
50
New York PostKyle Smith
As DJ, Columbus Short eases his way through the movie without trying to impress us too much, which is welcome, but he's also a little bland around the edges. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Stomp the Yard, at nearly two hours, has a decent story, a good subject and a horrible plot. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The plot is stale though some of the moves are fresh. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
Unfortunately, it misses the one cliché that might have been welcome: the predictably plotted flashy dance movie where the actual dance makes it all worthwhile. Read full review
40
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
Newcomer Short has charisma, charm and athleticism to burn, but it's mostly for naught in a movie that spends two tedious hours pulling out every stop in the gold-hearted-kid-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks- meets-gold-hearted-girl-who-values-true-love-above-privilege playbook. Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
Holding all this together would be enough of a chore even without the hollow black-pride message. Read full review
40
EmpireSimon Braund
Decidely average teen drama but with a few decent dance numbers. Read full review
38
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Given its predictable story, the only reason to see Stomp is for the rhythmic step dancing. Read full review
38
PremiereStephen Saito
Director Sylvain White, whose last film was the equally unnecessary "I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer," manages to take the joy out of a dance movie by jerking the camera around and speeding up the dance moves so much. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesMichael Ordoña
Yes, stepping is an age-old tradition at historically African American schools, but this smells of desperation; one more misstep for a film with two left feet. Read full review
30
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Stepping is everything in Stomp the Yard, and, dare I say it, a stepping stone to DJ's redemption. The movie itself is redeemed -- slightly -- by its almost touching devotion to the hoary Hollywood traditions of college movies with battling frats, as well as its earnest endorsement of education.
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