Breakin’/ Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (Double Feature): Blu-Ray Review

Arriving this week on Blu-ray is the Breakin’/ Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (Double Feature) courtesy of Shout! Factory. Both films were originally released in 1984 by Cannon Films in order to cash in on the popularity of breakdancing at the time. Although many thought that this style of dance was just a fad, little did they realize that it would still be going strong three decades later.

As a lifelong lover of hip-hop culture, of course I loved the “Breakin'” films as a kid. Having not seen them in many years, I was looking forward to checking out this HD release from Shout!. I would be lying if I said that both “Breakin'” and “Breakin’ 2” stood the test of time. However, despite the awful acting, writing, and directing, they are still fun to watch.

One major difference I recently noticed between the two films is how different they actually are. “Breakin” plays it straight and only includes dancing during practicing, dance battles, or auditions. “Electric Boogaloo” (I still love that title), throws in dance sequences whenever it damn well feels like it. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem watching an entire neighborhood (including postal workers, police officers, landscapers, telephone line repair men) dancing their way to City Hall. I also have no issues with entire hospital (nurses, doctors, patients) getting their groove on. It’s just those things never happened the first time around. I guess the filmmakers needed more dancing.

Listen, if you are a fan of the “Breakin” series then picking this up is a no-brainer. The transfers looks absolutely stunning and there are some great bonus feature. One thing is for certain, it will make you want to order a copy of the soundtrack (which I still own on cassette from 1984).

Bonus Features
• NEW Commentary With Bugaloo Director Sam Firstenberg, Actor Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quiñones And Bugaloo Editor Marcus Manton
• The Elements Of Hip Hop
• The Culture Of Hip Hop
• Shout Outs
• Living Legends Montage
• Original Trailer

By: Marc Ferman

Order: Breakin’/ Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (Double Feature): Blu-Ray