Make It Happen is the next film to arrive out of the recent trend of dance-until-your-dreams-come-true feel-good flicks but interlaced within the subtext is a frighteningly appealing mistruth.

Make It Happen is just the type of overly commercial and hyper-sentimentalized film that inspires young fame seekers to follow their dreams, arguably, to their peril. What might be most problematic about Make It Happen, in addition to its recycled theme, is the film’s friendly dishonesty.

The film attempts to tell a tale of a hard-knock life, but in reality the majority of the films woes are brought upon itself. While the young, tragic, female protagonist of Make It Happen ends up dancing in a burlesque club after being rejected from one of the most prestigious dance schools in America, somehow she is cushioned from exploitation by an extraordinarily giving and supportive cast of players.

The only redeeming quality is the energetic dance sequences, which increase in choreographic dynamism before, of course, reaching a climax toward the end of the film. The well-staged dance routines are reminiscent of a Broadway musical and several even pay homage to the respectable tradition of burlesque dance.

Unfortunately, what could have been an original twist to the same old story becomes a lesson for our female protagonist on being more feminine – a skill she apparently must acquire before the Chicago School of Music and Dance will allow her dreams to come true.

Despite some high points, Make It Happen is sub-textually problematic, focusing perhaps on marketability rather than message. What we are left with is an unoriginal film with some impressive dance choreography.