Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
When a hip hop violinist busking in the New York subway encounters a classical dancer on scholarship at the Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts, sparks fly. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives forever.
High Strung is a fairly formulaic dance-romance hybrid that blends classical ballet with hip-hop violin in a visually appealing but narratively predictable package. The plot follows well-worn genre beats — mismatched talents, romantic tension, climactic competition — without much subversion. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with leads delivering competent if shallow performances. Cinematography earns a slight edge thanks to energetic choreography sequences and appealing NYC locations. Novelty gets a modest boost for the distinctive violin-hip-hop fusion concept, which gives the film a somewhat unique identity even if the execution is conventional. The ending resolves exactly as expected with little earned emotional payoff.