There's very little that's original about "Step Up 2 the Streets" (Touchstone). But this lighthearted dance sequel has enough humor, charm and high-energy choreography to keep it enjoyable.

Orphaned Baltimore teen Andie West (Briana Evigan) prefers dancing with her guerrilla hip-hop crew, the 410, to attending school or doing her homework. Under the dictatorial command of their tough leader, Tuck (Black Thomas), the 410 have won the renowned underground competition known as "the Streets" five years running.

Faced with the possibility of being shipped off to Texas unless she gets her life under control, Andie applies to the prestigious Maryland School of the Arts and, at the behest of Chase Collins (Robert Hoffman) -- the big man on campus and younger brother of the school's director, Blake (Will Kemp) -- is accepted.

Soon Andie and Chase are not only dancing together, but -- you guessed it -- falling for each other, much to the annoyance of Chase's girlfriend, Sophie (singer Cassie Ventura). Equally put out by Andie's new circumstances are her colleagues from the 410, who react to her frequent absences from rehearsal by expelling her.

At Chase's suggestion, Andie assembles a crew of her own. Each is a likable eccentric, from nerdy, irrepressible "Moose" (Adam G. Sevani) to linguistically challenged Japanese exchange student Jenny Kido (Mari Koda) to stuntman-turned-dancer "Monster" (Luis Rosado).

The stage is set for the inevitable showdown between the 410 and Andie's group, the MSA, with outbreaks of reverse snobbery and a nasty fistfight along the way.

In addition to being derivative, director Jon M. Chu's first feature also suffers from occasionally clunky dialogue and some subpar acting. But the movie still manages to be both funny and touchingly romantic in between its well-staged dance sequences.

Evigan and Hoffman are winning, with her quiet dignity well matched by his sly cockiness. And it's a tribute to the film's innocent atmosphere that when they finally share a single kiss, it seems like a very big deal indeed.

The film contains one scene of violence, moderately suggestive dancing and some crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Definitely, Maybe (Universal)
Carefully wrought romantic comedy, albeit with some problematic material, in which an advertiser (Ryan Reynolds) on the verge of divorce recounts to his inquiring daughter (Abigail Breslin) how he chose her mother from among the three women (Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher) he had once been dating. Writer-director Adam Brooks' generally well-written, often touching film is most suitable for mature viewers. Implied nonmarital sexual activity and cohabitation, some profanity, frank sexual talk and crass language, divorce theme, lesbian reference and political pro-choice allusion. (A-III, PG-13)

In Bruges (Focus)
Playwright Martin McDonagh is writer and director of this film about a mobster (Ralph Fiennes) who, after a heinous murder, orders his two Irish hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) to go into hiding in the medieval Belgian city -- an experience that proves transformative for both of them. Though the finely acted tragicomedy has several extremely violent sequences and myriad other sordid elements, necessitating the film's highly restrictive classification, McDonagh's theme of the futility of cyclical violence is powerfully conveyed, while the intermittent conversations between the two criminals about the meaning of life and other spiritual matters provide further texture. Pervasive rough language and some profanity, violence with bloodshed, murder and suicide, killing of a priest, drug use, prostitution, frank sexual talk, a nongraphic sexual encounter and ethnic slurs. (L, R)

Jumper (Fox/Regency)
Chaotic science fiction thriller about a young man (Hayden Christensen) who learns he has the ability to transport himself instantly to any location around the globe, and how he teams with another Jumper (Jamie Bell) to fight an agent (Samuel Jackson) of the evil Paladin forces bent on their extermination. The premise is promising and there are some decent effects, but director Doug Liman, so adept in the action genre, can do little with a risible, underwritten script, dull plot and generally indifferent performances. Intense action violence, an instance of the f-word, crude language and profanity, implied nonmarital sexual relationship, murder and mayhem. (A-III, PG-13)

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount/Nickelodeon)
Gothic fantasy adventure tale set on an isolated Victorian estate once occupied by an eccentric student of the paranormal (David Strathairn) and now home to his great-niece (Mary-Louise Parker), her twin sons (both played by Freddie Highmore) and daughter (Sarah Bolger), all of whom find themselves caught up in a struggle among normally invisible creatures, some good, others evil, for possession of a book detailing their ancestor's discoveries. Director Mark Waters' lavish film, showcasing first-class special effects, some fine performances, unobjectionable dialogue and estimable lessons about family life, is appropriate for all but the youngest viewers, who might find it too intense. Some fantasy violence and a couple of mild oaths. (A-I, PG)

John Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.