STEP UP 4: MIAMI HEAT (PG)

Romance/Drama. Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher, Tommy Dewey, Cleopatra Coleman. Director: Scott Speer

The heat is on and the clothes are off in the fourth chapter of the high-energy dance franchise, which propelled Channing Tatum’s star into the ascendancy in 2006.

While he may be long gone from Step Up 4: Miami Heat, scriptwriters Duane Adler and Amanda Brody work to the same tried and tested formula, pairing a body-popping hunk and a gymnastic honey to a soundtrack of Timbaland, Flo Rida and Pitbull.

This time, there are no dance battles between rival crews which culminate in a final reel showdown.

Instead, director Scott Speer somersaults into the increasingly fashionable world of flash mobs, staging impromptu performances around sun-baked East Coast locations.

Sean (Ryan Guzman) and best friend Eddy (Misha Gabriel) work at one of Miami’s most popular hotels.

When they are not serving guests with overpriced drinks, the handsome duo mastermind a troupe of hugely talented dancers and artists nicknamed The Mob.

They orchestrate daring flash mobs around the city, hoping to win an online competition by attracting more than 10 million views to their videos. They are currently ranked second, behind a performing cat.

During a night out, Sean meets Emily (Kathryn McCormick), who is preparing an audition for a prestigious dance company.

Attraction is instant, then Sean discovers Emily is the daughter of Mr Anderson (Peter Gallagher), who has just announced plans to bulldoze the neighbourhood to make way for a multimillion-dollar development. Sean and Eddy plan the ultimate flash mob to galvanise support against Anderson and stop the bulldozers from destroying their community.

Step Up 4: Miami Heat gyrates clear of realism in the opening 10 minutes, which sees The Mob perform atop gridlocked cars as bystanders cheer them on.

Dance sequences become increasingly elaborate, including an intervention at an art gallery that would be logistically impossible given the timeframe and on-site security.

Plausibility aside, Speer’s film is undemanding fun.

Martial arts fighter and professional model Guzman is easy on the eye and he’s certainly not shy about flaunting his washboard abs. Contemporary dancer McCormick relishes her extended moments alone in the spotlight. On-screen chemistry simmers nicely.