(2004)

Submitted by Tornado Dragon

SHORT VERSION:
Elgin and David enter the Big Bounce dance competition with their own crews (where the winning crew will receive $50,000 and the chance to dance in a Lil’ Kim music video), but only the former’s crew makes it to the finals against the rival Wade’s Crew. Afterwards, they both learn that their young friend Lil’ Saint was tragically shot and killed in a drive-by earlier in the day. The next day, Elgin’s crew name themselves the Lil’ Saints in tribute to him.

The Lil’ Saints and Wade’s Crew tie for first place, but both teams refuse the tie. Mr. Rad directly appeals to Lil’ Kim to let them battle again, but this time “straight hood” (no rules), meaning that other dancers can join the crews on the spot, and the audience would decide the winners. David takes this opportunity to finally bury the hatchet with Elgin and join his crew for the final battle, and the Lil’ Saints go on to defeat Wade’s Crew and win the competition. David also gets Elgin’s blessing to date Liyah.

LONG VERSION:
Elgin (Marques Houston) and David (Omari Grandberry) each find out about an upcoming dance competition called “The Big Bounce”, where the winning dance crew will receive $50,000 and the chance to dance in a Lil’ Kim music video, so they each enter with their own crews. Elgin’s crew makes it to the finals, but David’s crew doesn’t, after they make two errors in the semi-final round.

As David is lamenting his loss with Liyah (Jennifer Freeman) at a diner, Rashann (Dreux Frederic) runs in and tells him that Lil’ Saint (Malcolm David Kelley) – the newest and youngest member of their crew – was shot in a drive-by earlier in the day. When they get to the hospital, they find out that Saint did not survive. The next day, Liyah and Rico (Jarell Houston) set up Elgin and David to meet at Elgin’s house to try to get them to squash their heat and reform the original crew in tribute to Lil’ Saint. Both refuse to do so, Elgin because he still won’t forgive David for not being available to help him the night he got beaten and robbed, and David after he points out that the competition rules state that you must finish it with the crew you started with. At the competition later that day, Elgin and his crew pay their tribute by christening themselves “The Lil’ Saints.”

The Lil’ Saints end up tying with their rivals, Wade’s Crew, for first place, but both teams refuse to accept the tie. Mr. Rad (Steve Harvey) – the emcee for the street dance battles Elgin and David participate in – then comes up to Lil’ Kim (herself) and successfully appeals to her to allow them to do another battle, but this time “straight hood”, meaning no rules, and the audience would decide the winners. This decision also allows others to join the crews on the spot, so David steps up to Elgin and offers to join his crew for the memory of Lil’ Saint, and he and Elgin finally bury the hatchet.

The Lil’ Saints end up getting a greater response from the crowd, and thus are declared the winners. As they celebrate, Elgin gives David his blessing to date Liyah, and she and David kiss. Wade (Christopher Jones) then comes up to Elgin and David and expresses his disgust over having lost to them, but David tells him “Y’all just mad, because today, you suckas got served”, echoing what Wade had said to them when his crew beat theirs in an earlier dance battle. Elgin and David then get the crowd to chant “served!” at Wade and his crew until they stomp off, and they continue celebrating.