Stepping away from a fairy tale
The Tatums sparkled in the movie ‘Step Up’, which was predictable yet incredibly endearing due to the actors’ chemistry. Now they’ve decided to split up after nine years of marriage, writes Sonia Rao
CAN we agree once and for all that Monday is the worst day of the week? For your consideration: it is the day Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum announced that they had decided to split up after nine years of marriage.
Both actors uploaded a statement to the Big Three – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: “We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together… but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.
“There are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision – just two best-friends realising it’s time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.”
The split signifies the end of a fairy-tale romance that began on the set of Anne Fletcher’s Step Up. Enough viewers flocked to the theatre to convince producers to make four spin-off movies and a Youtube Red series inexplicably starring Ne-yo. But none of those compare to the original. The Tatums carried the film on their twirling backs, somehow allowing a film with a 19% on Rotten Tomatoes to captivate audiences.
Oh, Step Up How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Before Step Up, we mainly knew Tatum for playing Amanda Bynes’s hunky love interest earlier that year in She’s the
Man. But Step Up showcased his dance skills through some “nifty routines”, as The Washington Post’s film critic put it that year, and served as a tame run-through for 2012’s Magic Mike. The movie also let Tatum try out a bit of physical comedy, which he put to good use in 21 Jump Street. 2. I love thee for giving us an amazing soundtrack
The Step Up soundtrack is slept on. You know who created original music for this movie? Ciara, Chamillionaire and Kelis, to name a few. Mario, known for the popular - and, coincidentally, Ne-yo-produced single Let Me Love You, and Drew Sidora also contributed to the album. They played Nora’s classmates Miles and Lucy in the movie. 3. I love thee despite Skinny’s emotionally manipulative death
The soundtrack also includes Youngbloodz’s I’mma Shine, a great track that unfortunately plays when Skinny (De’shawn Washington), the brother of Tyler’s best friend Mac (Damaine Radcliff) is killed.
Skinny tries to hang out with his older brother and Tyler throughout the movie, and he gets shot after stealing a car while the two are at a party.
This serves as a wake-up call for Tyler, who realises that he needs to make better decisions in life – like not ditching Nora right before her dance showcase. Tyler shows up at the last minute and wows the fictional audience with his hip-hop skills.