Once in a weird while, a movie mimics the flaws — and charms — of its protagonist’s journey to an uncanny degree. Like high schooler Quinn Ackermann, a two-left-footer who does a crash course in dancing in order to get into her first-choice college, “Work It” often feels like it too crammed in hopes a becoming a hit. Directed by Laura Terruso and written by Alison Peck (Alicia Keys is a producer), this fairly routine dance-off outing streams on Netflix starting Aug. 7.

Disney Channel-crafted pop star Sabrina Carpenter leads a cast packed with amiable lovelies, including Liza Koshy as best friend Jas, Josh Taylor as Quinn’s love interest, and Keiynan Lonsdale as the haughty head of the high school’s championship dance team.

A straight-a student, Quinn wants to attend her deceased father’s alma mater, Duke University, aka “the Harvard of the South.” On a campus visit, she...