DVD Review: Jump In! (Freestyle Edition)

By Jeff Swindoll Apr 4, 2007, 16:18 GMT

Story revolves around a young boxer, Izzy Daniels (Corbin Bleu), who trains to follow in his father\'s footsteps by winning the Golden Glove. When his friend, Mary (KeKe Palmer), however, asks him to substitute for a team member in a Double Dutch tournament, the young man discovers a hidden passion for jump roping ...more

“We don’t sing, we jump.”

Hoping that lightening would strike twice (thrice, or however many times they could manage it) the Disney Channel cast High School Musical tween Corbin Bleu in this jump roping epic. 

Awaiting the results of the competition

Brooklyn teenager Izzy Daniels (Corbin Bleu) is training to become a boxing champ.  He’s in training because his father Kenneth (David Reivers, Corbin Bleu’s real life dad) was a boxer in the neighborhood and it’s his dream that his son follow in his footsteps.  His rival is the neighborhood bully Rodney (Patrick Johnson, Jr.) who picks on Izzy on the streets and promises to pound him in the ring since he’s a boxer also.  He has to escort his little sister Karin (Kylee Russell) to a double Dutch jump rope competition. 

His neighbor Mary (Keke Palmer) is in the competition and makes the city finals.  However, one of her team quits to join the first place team and she finds herself a person short and all looks to be lost.  Izzy shows the girls his mad skills at double Dutch and Mary, Keisha (Laivan Green), and Shauna (Shanica Knowles) want him to replace their traitorous member and join their team.  He refuses, because of what his pals will think of him, but eventually agrees to fill in and practice (in hiding) with them until a replacement can be found.

He eventually comes around and agrees to join the team, but Rodney snaps some pictures of Izzy double Dutching, posts them all over the school, and Izzy drops off the team right before the state finals.  Will Izzy get over it and take the team to the finals of will the girls have to put their ropes in storage?

The Disney lightening machine, designed by those wily Imagineers no doubt, strikes again because Jump In got just over 8 million viewers when it premiered on the Disney Channel.  Although the plotline has certain similarities to High School Musical, the film is a pleasant enough time killer for the adults and the kids should like watching it again (no doubt they’ve seen it on the Disney Channel).  Those expecting characters to burst into large musical numbers will be disappointed. 

However, the soundtrack is filled with lots of music from hip hop bands and some tween groups (the soundtrack also turned into a best seller).  Both Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer are likeable characters and make a pretty good team together, both on and off the jump rope court. 

The Hot Chili Steppers in action

The plotline is well worn, look for a little Romeo and Juliet in how Mary is on the upper fire escape above Izzy’s window, but the product is a pretty good entertainment.  Another one to keep in mind for family night with the kids.  It’s predictable that there’s going to be a happy ending, though it’s always good to see the snooty bad guys eat dirt. 

Jump In is presented in fullscreen as it was originally aired on television.  Special features include two music videos.  “Jumpin’” runs 2 minutes and is performed by Keke Palmer and “Vertical” runs 3 minutes and is performed by T-Squad (another Disney tween band).  The 5 minute “Learning the Moves” shows you how to do some jump rope moves, make sure you clear out the living room furniture first.  Corbin Bleu, double Dutch instructor Chris Emerson, Shanica Knowles, and Laivan Greene show you how to do the moves. 

“Inside the Ropes: The making of Jump In” runs 6 minutes and interviews Bleu, Palmer, Patrick Johnson, Jr., actor Micah Williams, director Paul Hoen, producer Kevin Lafferty, David Reivers, choreographer Troy Liddell, double Dutch double (stunt double to Bleu) Marcus Taylor, and actor Mazin Elsadig.  Finally there are some previews for other Disney DVDs.

Jump In is close in plot to High School Musical but it differs enough that it’s still an entertaining television movie.  Good performances from Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer will keep your interest.  Well, at least they didn’t sing and double Dutch.  Don’t worry the path is set for a sequel if they decide to do one. 

Rodney versus Izzy

Jump In! (Freestyle Edition) is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.