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Taking cues from "Clueless" -- the best teen bubble gum flick of Generation Y -- it's a self-mocking popularity satire that takes frequent pot shots at "sweater monkeys" and their endlessly percolating pep, while also allowing its bright cast of pretty young things to color outside the lines of their stock characters. The talented Kirsten Dunst embraces her inner ditz as Torrence Shipman, the new cheer captain of the Rancho Carne High School Toros, a boys-and-girls pep squad with a repertoire of flashy choreographed routines and a major reputation to maintain. For five years running they've won the ruthlessly competitive national cheerleading championships. (You know you've watched them on ESPN2, admit it.) But as her tenure begins, Torrence makes a discovery that could ruin "my whole cheerleading career!" It seems her catty, conniving predecessor swiped every one of their incredibly dexterous half-time numbers from the East Compton Clovers, an inner city squad that ain't gonna take it lying down when a bunch of blonde San Diego suburbanites start pinching their moves. In the end, of course, the two squads will face off at the national competition, and the closer "Bring It On" gets to that inevitable finale, the more it seems to fall back on the tiresome preparing-for-the-big-game-style plot template. But for most of the movie, the predictability is balanced by an anything-goes sense of humor and entertaining characters played by watchable stars. In addition to Dunst, who brings a little dignity to what could have been an humiliating jiggle role, the movie mocks the "in crowd" mentality by looking at the cheerleaders through the amusingly cynical eyes of a grungy-but-beautiful brother and sister duo, just transferred from L.A. (which at this country club high school means they're, like, total freaks). An intellectual (ooo! he reads!) Green Day wannabe with a hormone-racing smile, Cliff (Jesse Bradford) lowers himself to hanging around the pompom girls because he has a jones for Torrence. Missy (Eliza Dushka, Faith on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") on the other hand, is an acrobatic tough cookie in army pants and white-girl dreadlocks who tries out for the cheer squad because "your school has no gymnastics program and this is a last resort." While these two character are no more original than the cheerleaders, the dumb jocks who say "dude!" and high-five each other every two minutes, or any of the movie's other stereotypes (desperate for a new routine, the girls hire a ruthless, queeny-biker choreographer), Cliff and Missy do provide "Bring It On" a sarcastic breath of fresh air, making it infinitely more tolerable. Plus, the picture is peppered with incidental humor (like the fact that the Toro football team stinks) and genuinely entertaining character moments that 99 percent of teen-targeted movies are far to shallow to even attempt. The best scene in the whole movie is scene without a word of dialogue, in which Torrence sleeps over at Missy's and tries to flirt with Cliff while brushing her teeth when they end up in the bathroom at the same time. There's more spark, charisma and chemistry in that cute, simple 60 seconds than in a dozen Freddie Prinze, Jr. movies. Of course "Bring It On" is utterly contrived and full of stock characters. But director Peyton Reed, an alumni of deviant sketch comedy shows like "Mr. Show" and "Upright Citizens Brigade," does his best to make the movie's clichés eat themselves. He also walksRead full review
Normally I hate movies about highschool angst, and I REALLY hate cheerleaders (that's another story), but I have to admit that I love this movie. It has no value other than being entertainment. Eliza Dushku is so under-rated, so it's worth a watch just to see her wonderful gymnastics and her bad-girl attitude. I have to admit, this movie just plain makes me laugh! Give it a shot, then check out Eliza as the leader of an international band of jewel theives (Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back) or the rogue slayer (Buffy & Angel, respectively). I don't think she'll dissapoint you.
THIS IS A MOVIE, FROM 2000. IT IS THE FIRST, IN A BUNCH, OF CHEERLEADER MOVIES. IT HAS A GREAT CAST. IT HAS REALLY GOOD CHARACTERS, TOO. IT IS A REALLY FUN MOVIE. WATCH THIS MOVIE. THANK YOU.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this DVD since my 4yr old daughter started getting involved in cheerleading. I remember this movie was very popular with my nieces back when it was released. I believe my daughter saw this movie about three times a day for two weeks! It was really cool to watch her singing and dancing like the girls in the movie. The only flaw that I find are some gestures and words they use, but I think it is OK to expose her to this type of things and show her what is right and what is wrong. To be honest I enjoy watching this movie too, even my husband got caught into it (Hmmm)
Ok so, when this came out I went everyday it was playing, the spinoffs are garbage, but the Original with Kirsten dunst is amazing. There is some salty language but if youv ever been to high school, its accurate. Lol just remembered, a few days I saw it twice in the theater, one day I went 3 times. Then rented it from Blockbuster til it was on sale as previously viewed, I bought it and still watch it. Yes I have the DVD, but the VCR is si much easier. Just pop it in and watch. My opinion obviously. You will not be disappointed at all. So there, that is my review!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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