Breakin' (1984) (aka: Breakdance: The Movie) Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers, Ben Lokey, Christopher McDonald, Phineas Newborn III Movie Review

Breakin' (1984)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Breakin' (1984) (aka: Breakdance: The Movie)

80s Streetdance

Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) loves to dance, the trouble is that the classes she takes are run by Franco (Ben Lokey) who is always trying to put the moves on her. But it is thanks to a fellow dancer, Adam (Phineas Newborn III), that she is introduced to the break dance scene where she meets Ozone (Adolfo Quinones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers). With Ozone and Turbo constantly hassled by a rival street dance group Kelly joins forces with them to not only take their rivals on but teaching them some of her moves.

I remember when "Breakin'" came out, although back then I knew it as "Breakdance: The Movie", and it was one of the movies I was desperate to see as like many back in the 80s I was into break dancing. Okay I liked break dancing but the closest I got to it was doing a poor robot and could only look on in admiration at those who could lock, pop and windmill. The daft thing is that whilst it is more than 30 years since "Breakin'" was released I loved watching this movie for the first time even if I have to say it is bad on so many different levels.

And here is the simple reason I loved "Breakin'", even now; it took me back to the 80s and made me feel like I was there. From the clothes to the music as well as the dancing it grabs that era beautifully and brings it to life. So yes the storyline is slim and predictable, the dialogue is cheesy and basically what you have is 90 minutes of dancing but somehow despite being slim and incredibly cheesy as Kelly is taught to break dance and struggles with the moves it still entertains. I wish I could say there was more to it than that but there isn't although a pre-fame Jean-Claude Van Damme can be seen as a guy in the crowd at one point.

What this all boils down to is that "Breakin'" is not a good movie, I would like to say it was but I just can't bring myself to say that. But it is an entertaining movie which whilst cheesy ends up a lot of fun, taking you back to the 80s.


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