Summary
Into the Beat relies on the formulaic and predictable elements to keep the story moving, but at the same time, there’s no denying that the plot is heartwarming.
This review of the Netflix film Into the Beat contains no spoilers — the drama was released on the streaming service on April 16, 2021.
I think we’ve said this plenty of times on this site, but since Step Up, the constant churning of the formulaic dance genre comes in different forms and languages. While the dance genre isn’t the problem, the recycled storyline of “girl meets boy”, then joins a street dance troupe is something that we have seen repeatedly. There’s no doubt that audiences will find Netflix’s German film Into the Beat familiar and predictable.
And the story follows the usual tropes as well; an inspiring ballet dancer named Katya (played by Alexandra Pfeifer) accidentally finds herself in a world of hip hop dancing after making her way home. She’s awkwardly thrown in to dance routine amongst the community, giving off the cute vibe, with the audience knowing she’ll be formed into a complete dancer by the end of the film. Of course, the film needs to throw in a romance, so Katya finds herself attached to dancer Marlon, who shows her the ropes and entices her away from the world of ballet. The only problem is, she’s the daughter of a famous ballet dancer.
Into the Beat relies on the formulaic and predictable elements to keep the story moving, but at the same time, there’s no denying that the plot is heartwarming. Watching two young adults find love by dancing is something that does not get boring, even though it’s a tired script. The film is flagrantly moving towards a decision point, whereby Katya has to choose, which can have consequences. It would be good if we were offered a similar script with a different outcome, but writers and directors seem extremely obsessed with this beloved concept.
With a committed cast, and a sweet journey accompanying the lead character, there’s no point shying away from the Netflix film. It’s just that we’ve seen Into the Beat many times before.
