Bring It On review : Knickers galore
(First published in 2000)
There are more occupied knickers in this film than you could shake a box of biological washing powder at. Fortunately they are all in use by attractive teenage girls. Unfortunately, the knickers aren’t very sexy but still, it is only rated 12.
On the face of it this film should be rubbish. A story about a group of cheerleaders er.. cheerleading, but as a light-hearted, superficial, feel-good film it’s actually quite good. And let’s not forget the pretty girls. Of course if you are a girl yourself, and not of that persuasion, then don’t worry there are plenty of good-looking lads too. However, don’t go expecting any underpants.
Kirsten Dunst, is perfectly cast as Torrance, the new cheerleader’s leader. She is attractive, but not blatantly so, and manages to convey a girl-next-door image very well. This makes it easier to take her character seriously and to sympathize with her.
Eliza Dushku (Faith, from Buffy The Vampire Slayer) plays Missy Pantone, an oddball student recently transferred to the school. She is really into being a gymnast, but when she finds there is no gymnastic club at the school, she reluctantly allows herself to audition to be a cheerleader. This seems somewhat unlikely to me though, as she is the type of person you would expect wouldn’t be seen dead cheerleading, but to give them their due, she does try to be reluctant.
Anyway, the film revolves around the attempt by the five-times national champion cheerleader team, The Toros, to continue their success by winning this year’s championship. The captain that has taken them to their present, favourites-to-win status has resigned, and Torrance, who is enthusiastic but no natural, is her successor.
She has to deal with some pretty big set backs and her attempt to overcome the first one is one of those, “seemed like a good idea at the time” ideas. The character she hires in as a professional choreographer is wonderfully over the top. There is a love interest maintained throughout between Torrance and Missy’s brother, Cliff. Also there is a strong rivalry between the Toros and an all black - and stereotypically under funded team - the Clovers. This drives the plot from early on up to its predictable finale.
The poster in the foyer advertising this film quoted someone describing it as, “like American Pie.” I totally disagree with this statement as American Pie was predominantly sexual and vulgar in tone but this film is not.
Not my cup of tea really but I enjoyed it anyway.
Written by Andy(ArT)Trigg on April 14th, 2008 with
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