Why Everybody Who Saw 'Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming' Deserves a Refund

Did you hear about that stepping movie with the main character who's really rebellious? He's selfish, and he has a hard time listening to authority, especially male role models after he had a death in his family. He's in this fraternity that really wants to win a step show competition, and he has a girlfriend who is in a sorority, too. The only problem is he's had some trouble in the streets and the opposing team is always pissing him off. If this movie sounds familiar, it's because "Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming" was a carbon copy of "Stomp the Yard" but dumbed down enough to include the overused safety net of thugs and guns in black films.

The cast had so much potential. I'm a long-time supporter of anything Stephen "Twitch" Boss is involved in after his riveting performance on Season 4 of "So You Think You Can Dance" and as an all-star on SYTYCD's Season 7. Unfortunately his acting is just average. While Terrence Jenkins, a popular host of BET's "106 & Park" is great for moving the crowd, his acting is average, too. I've never really been impressed with David Banner or Pooch Hall as actors, but both guys are handsome in different ways. As superficial as it sounds, I found more pleasure in looking at Twitch's impressive six pack and watching him dance than watching the movie. His character was interesting had he been more developed outside of being a step champ.

The screenwriters didn't even attempt to change the plot outside of making it stereotypical. A dance off at a street venue in the beginning of the film? Check. A dead relative? Check, except this time it was a mother instead of a brother. A close friend who stands by you? Check. A line brother who is hesitant to get rid of original stepping? Check. A fraternity interrupting a new line? Check. A competition at a club? Check. A frat member who has a new routine he really wants to use with his frat? Check. Even some of the lines were the same. It literally seemed like the screenwriter(s) copied and pasted parts of the original movie.

A sequel is supposed to use the original movie and make it that much better, but instead of making "Stomp the Yard" better, they made me relieved that the original film wasn't this mediocre. One of the only differences between the two films was that instead of someone being killed for a hustle, the main character Chance Harris (played by Collins Pennie) had to come up with money he didn't have. Due to being in a frat and community service, he was constantly bailing out on his father Terry (played by veteran actor Keith David), which hurt the relationship between the two. So of course the gang came after him, his father's restaurant, his line brothers, and any fraternity who stood in his way. Even the lady who worked in the restaurant (who I'm not sure if it's Terry's girlfriend or wife) played by veteran actress Jasmine Guy, who is not mentioned in IMDB's lineup, couldn't save this film.

When Chance is faced with a challenge to win the Sprite Step Off battle, he wants to give the money to David Banner's character, Jay. Only problem is Jay is betting on Mu Gamma Xi instead of Theta Nu, so the team would have to purposely lose. Whatever you think happens at the end is probably right. The stepping and dancing was excellent, as I expected it to be, but it couldn't carry the whole movie--even with Twitch's six pack. The decision Jay made at the end of the movie had to make even David Banner want to laugh. Even on a college campus, "thugs" just don't operate this way no matter how many people are around.

This movie isn't even worth one star. The main character does not have the star power Columbus Short had nor do the supporting cast. The script left much to be desired. The only part that made the film one star was the female sorority that Chance's girlfriend, Nikki (played by Tika Sumpter), was in. Unlike "Stomp the Yard," the female sorors were more than just showpieces. The semi-rivalry between Nikki and Chance's ex Brenda (played by Kiely Williams) was nothing new in movies, but it did add a slight difference between the original film.

This is not a movie I'd recommend buying without renting from Netflix or watching someone else's copy first. I'm disappointed the creators didn't do more. It may be hard to believe, but there are more creative ways to do Black Greek entertainment. Calvin Leroy King III's "Crossed the Play" is a great example of that.