Reviewer's Note:--I rented this one (for free!) from the public library, so this assessment is based on only one day's workout. I was also in a weird mood when I wrote this, so bear that in mind.

The set is darkened, but illuminated from the floor--just enough light to outline the six-pack abs and admirable biceps, triceps and delts of the cast. Anyone over 12% body fat may get an inferiority complex before the workout even begins.

Although Gin Miller leads the workout, she doesn't say a word as she performs the moves in a ridiculous low-slung biker-style get-up. She does, however, give hand signal cues, which are mostly easy to follow. This Gin is referred to henceforth as "Sign-Language Gin".

In addition, there is a triple column of TV screens down the right hand side of the viewer's screen for much of the workout, plus several other TV's placed around the set. Each contains an identical, pre-recorded close-up shot of Gin's face (collectively referred to henceforth as the "TV Gins"), lit from the left with the right 1/2 of her face in shadow. It is these multiple TV Gins who talk you through the workout, but she/they do so in this monotone, low voice that makes you feel as if you're being given SUBLIMINAL workout cues. This "Big Brother-whispering-in-your-ear" flavor is further enhanced by the cast of obviously professional dancers who execute the moves so flawlessly and mechanically that they resemble "robots taking a step class", as a friend once described the Step Reebok cast.

I had never experienced one of the "official" Reebok videos before, so I guess I was in for a bit of a surprise. I don't know if the other Reebok videos strive for the disjointed, angular music video look, but this one definitely seemed to strive for that sort of cinematography! I regret to say that the creative camera angles did not positively contribute to my workout experience, and, in fact, it made it difficult to follow, even though the steps were not complex. Whenever I looked to the TV to see if I was performing a move correctly, the camera seemed to focus in on the perky-chested Barbie-like torso of one of the cast members, but rarely on her feet.

The workout itself has intense but rather basic, mostly linear choreography, and the soundtrack seemed to be slightly off from the choreography, which made it even more difficult to stay on the correct foot. Most of the power moves are pretty standard--very little that Cathe Friedrich or Karen Voight aficionados would find intriguing. Both Voight and Friedrich's moves are much more multi-directional and do a better job of working all muscle groups through their full range of motion.

Overall, what makes this video intense is the constant barrage of power moves with very few "recovery" interludes. I had sufficient cardiovascular endurance to perform all the moves without getting winded, but with so many consecutive power moves I did experience some lactic acid burn in the quads and glutes.

I did not know whether or not to be thankful when an occasional "X minutes remaining" appeared at the lower right of the screen. When the video is over, I suggest you turn it off immediately in order to avoid a series of pseudo-interviews with the robotic cast members, who offer such insights as "Power Step is just SOOO-O. so-o Cool. You just can't NOT get in shape with this workout," and "This stuff is, like, SOO-O intense," as they flutter their eyelashes, flex their muscles, and comment on fellow cast members bodies.

Though Gin Miller is always a consummate professional with perfect form, I don't think this workout will appeal to home exercisers trying to simulate the experience of a live step class. If you long to appear in Michael or Janet Jackson's next music video, on the other hand, you may enjoy fantasizing your way through it.

WWWendy