Nothing To Cheer About

Mon., Sept. 4, 2000

Theresa Carpine Ferris

“Bring It On” (Rated PG-13)

Wouldn’t it be scary if your school’s cheerleading squad was more athletic than your football team? Would you go to football games just to watch them cheer? I wouldn’t, but that’s just one of the never-would-happen-in-real-life flaws in “Bring It On.”

This new teen comedy stars Kirsten Dunst as Torrance, the new head cheerleader for her championship winning team. She’s set to win another championship when new girl Missy (Eliza Dushku) tells her their cheers were stolen from an East Compton school. The big finale features both teams at nationals, trying to keep the audience in suspense about who will triumph.

“Bring It On” was not what I expected. The commercials are misleading. At least three preview shots weren’t in the movie. Half of the ads sound like excerpts from a< The idea to make a sports movie about cheerleading was original, but the plot was lacking. The writers failed to capitalize on chances to make the audience laugh, such as with the dance choreographer. I kept thinking the role should be played by Will Ferrell from “Saturday Night Live.”

I also kept expecting the writer to address previously mentioned events. Take Torrance’s mother, who at first is disappointed her daughter isn’t a great scholar but later doesn’t care. Dilemmas kept popping up but were never mentioned again.

My biggest problem was that none of the characters were likeable. Everyone was always angry or depressed.

The movie wasn’t terrible. The background music was upbeat and, while I doubt I’d ever want to do it, the movie made cheerleading look fun.

Great writing and acting can save a movie. “Bring It On” had neither.

Grade: C

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