The 1st was quite okay, the 2nd was a little less than okay, the 3rd was the worst I'd ever seen... after the worst people started to realize that revolution is no promise for good hit, so the 4th (which, ironically, was named Revolution) was like getting back to the 1st one's setting.
Step Up 1 (2006): The girl deserved everything, but the guy did not. I hate it when the plot goes like the main character might do tons of wrong-doings but once he turns to the right side he earns everything, a beautiful and elegant girlfriend, a place in a famous art school, appreciation from the authorities, a sound future... Every bit of the sickening history can be forgiven and then be forgotten. On the one hand, it tells the 'prodigal son' that it's never too late to be good; on the other hand, I just can stop regarding it unfair to the people who have been striving hard all the way. Well, I at last realized that these films at least tell one truth- reality is unjust.
Step Up 2 (2008): It is purely street style, so that won't be my favourite, and so I am not judging technically but rather from the viewpoint of a writer. It was a simple story about a talented young dancer enlightening the people around and finally succeeded in winning an underground dance battlefield. The presentation was too similar to the first one- a dance at first, a dance at last; however, this time little room to tell a convincing story. I mean, scenes were all dedicated to dances, from which one can brief oneself the storyline if that was meticulously choreographed, well disappointed to say, this is a crucial element that Step Up 2 lacked. I think the principle 'less is more' is also valid here, too much is too much, when most of the time actors and actresses were not dancing instead of acting, I should say that was quite a mis-allocation of time could be a disaster for a movie.
Step Up 3 (2010): Never denied the fantastic work technology can give to the stage, though you may think that I am archaic, I always think that good dancing technique is the basis of good dancing, no matter it is freestyle, ballet, jazz, modern, American style or international style, without good dancing technique on can never be eye-catching. SU3 has just proven that usage of state of art neo and flash lights cannot help add charm when the quality of the subjects i s bad. Okay, dance is just one element of movie; however, you would like to look deeper you would probably be even more disappointed as you wouldn't find any depth. It should have been something like cheering young but it had made itself like an action film full of conspiracies. Really disappointing.
Step Up 4 (2012): Setting it in Miami gave it a very good reason to have boys and girls getting wet in beaches and heated the screen up with hot bikinis. Dances were generally choreographed better than SU3, and the Mobbers were all having a good reasons to mob- to express, while later mobbing became a way to earn their future. I like their intention. Knowing it had been some fashion for someone somewhere, I personally have no comment about flash mobs; however, for whatever reason whoever held, dancing should not become a public disturbance. Dancing is an art form, it should have lightened people up, if not enlightened them; dancing is of course a form of expression as well, just like aggressive speech may only embarrass and annoy people, when dancing becomes a destructive behaviour, there will be no audience left, so if you dance to express, staying calm and peaceful and keeping orders should be vital. Another thing I can't agree with is the prodigal son, again. Breaking rules and causing troubles should not be rewarding, unless the trouble makers have all paid their bills.
* UPDATE: and the 5th one, Step Up All In, review here.