Huh. So there’s a loser island of Japan. Who knew? Psst, I cannot tell you which island it is, mostly because it’s not in my notes. Just know, however, that not all Japanese islands are created equal. Wait. No. It’s here. The film is set in Okinawa. (Really? Everybody in Japan thinks Okinawa is for sucks? OK) The kids all want to go to Honshu and never come back. Those other islands are for squares, man.
Somewhere in the forgotten Japanese lands of Okinawa there’s a dance class.
It’s an important dance class. They’re being graded on it … for gym.
If the kids dance well enough, they get to go to Honshu … and never look back. Teruya Yō is a talentless blob who finds himself in love with Lisa, a girl with talent enough to get off their island. Yō ain’t got much. No dad, mom scrapes by as a hotel maid. His little sister follows Yō everywhere … even to the dance class where he spies on Lisa. Well, buddy, you’re here. Yo, Yō. Ya dancin’ or not? Mom gives Yō enough scratch to take some lessons … and he’s terrible. Really, really terrible.
However, when threatened on the spot by a local gang of hoods, Yō finds himself passable, enough to capture Lisa’s attention. There aren’t many boy dancers in the class and she wants a partner. “Dear Diary … Jackpot!” Awwww, they’re bonding over absentee fathers. I’m immediately reminded of The Onion article: “Lab Partner Wants to Be Sex Partner.”
Does Yō have it in him to push this relationship where he wants it to go? No. Not at all. But he is 
gonna learn a fair amount here. Step Out asks a great deal of the young actor playing Yō, as this is every bit a coming-of-age and romance, with the athleticism of a sports film required as well. And the film rewards him for this, thankfully. Many coming-of-age films embarrass or humiliate their young artists. Step Out does neither, despite having a serious clay blob to mold in the first place.
This is a very feel-good kind of film; it’s hard not to like Step Out. I don’t think it deserves any awards and I may never see the players again, but the film brought a smile or two; it’s always fun rooting for an underdog and teen romance, and this film has both. There’s also a whole slew of stuff the film doesn’t explain, but I’ll ignore that and report that the dancing made it worth seeing.
There once was a teenager named Yō
Who longed to be Lisa’s new beau
So he took up dance
On his way to romance
Can he get sugar before she has to go?
Not Rated, 96 Minutes
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Writer: Ruka Matsuda, Yukie Nakama
Genre: Sucks to be a teen
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Romantic fools
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Teen boys
