RIZE

RIZE gives you a compelling reason to watch a dance documentary: it shows Clowning and Krumping offering young people a healthy alternative to gangs, drugs, crime, and destructive lifestyles. The film is especially encouraging because many dancers openly credit God, praise Him, pray, worship, and use dance to help troubled youth.

The movie also has mature content. Mild obscenities and racial slurs appear, mostly in lyrics, while some dancing is sexually suggestive and there is quite a bit of upper male nudity. Those concerns keep this from being an unqualified family recommendation, but the film’s hopeful message about broken families and troubled communities is powerful.

If your teenagers are ready to practice discernment around mature content, RIZE is worth the trip; younger children should wait.

RIZE introduces two urban dance styles born in Los Angeles’ South Central neighborhoods: Clowning and Krumping. The movement begins with Tommy the Clown, who entertains children and adults at parties and family gatherings before recruiting young dancers.

As more groups form, the dancers find a safe and positive outlet amid tragic surroundings. The documentary follows their artistry, families, faith, and community impact toward a major competition between Clowners and Krumpers.

Three stars means RIZE is a strong, worthwhile documentary with some limitations. It is beautiful and moving, and it reaches inspirational heights during the competition between the dance groups. The dancers’ rapid and aggressive movements are complex and striking.

Director David LaChapelle wisely slows some dance scenes so viewers can appreciate their beauty. The film also opens with a disclaimer explaining that no footage has been sped up. Its use of gospel hymns and godly songs strengthens the emotional force of the documentary.

RIZE presents a very strong biblical and moral worldview, along with strong Christian messages and some light humanism. It shows young people turning away from gangs, drugs, violence, materialism, and self-destructive lifestyles. They help others, mentor abandoned and neglected children, encourage one another, and credit God with saving them through this movement.

The film portrays Christians positively. They pray, worship, and describe “Krumping for Christ.” Gospel hymns such as “Seek Ye the Lord” and “Amazing Grace,” along with “O Happy Day” and “Ghetto Gospel,” reinforce the documentary’s emphasis on faith, service, and worship.

RIZE’s central conviction is that young people can use creativity and community to resist destructive influences. Its dancers and families emphasize living godly, gang-free lives. The film’s mature content means viewers still need discernment, but its strongest message celebrates positive choices and God’s work in troubled communities.

Dance becomes an expression of worship and service rather than self-destruction. As Scripture says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

RIZE is beautiful, moving, and deeply hopeful about young people using dance to serve God and their communities. Mature content calls for discernment, especially with younger children. For teenagers and adults, WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.