Dance drama with all the right moves

YOU'VE probably seen it all before but chances are you'll still be charmed by the exuberant fresh-faced cast of the otherwise formulaic feel-good Japanese teen comedy Let's Go, Jets.

Based on a true story of a bunch of high school girls in Fukui who defy the odds by going on to become international cheer-dancing (which is similar to cheer-leading but with elements of pom dance, hip hop, jazz and line dance) champions, this sweet-natured coming-of-age film would appeal most to tweens who grew up on Hollywood dance musicals like Bring It On (2000) and Pitch Perfect (2012).

Eighteen-year-old Suzu Hirose (and her irresistible smile) leads the youthful cast as freshman Hikari, who joins the school's cheer dance club so she has a reason to show up at football matches and cheer for her crush Kosuke (Mackenyu who's Japanese Hollywood star Sonny Chiba's son).