It's cheer-tastic (groan)

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2016)

Released in 2000 and directed by Peyton Reed, "Bring it On" is a high school dramedy/satire/sports flick starring Kirsten Dunst as, Torrance, the new captain of a champion San Diego cheering squad. Eliza Dushku co-stars as Torrance's new feisty teammate, Missy, while Jesse Bradford is on hand as Missy's brother and Torrance's possible romantic interest. Torrance and her team are devastated when they discover that their championship routines were ripped-off from an inner city cheer team by the former captain; now they have to learn all-new routines to win the championships in Florida.
"Bring it On" was a surprise minor hit and inspired four direct-to-video sequels (all stand-alone films): "Bring it On Again" (2004), "Bring it On: All or Nothing" (2006), "Bring it On: In it to Win it" (2007) and "Bring it On: Fight to the Finish" (2009). Being the only theatrically released movie in the series, "Bring it On" is the most polished in the series.
While it thankfully lacks visual raunch, like the vulgar "American Pie" flicks, it's sometimes verbally lascivious and profane, but in a witty, humorous way. In Roger Ebert's review he went on and on about how "Bring it On" is basically an R-rated movie watered down barely enough to get a PG-13 rating to sell more tickets. He decried that it's too foul for kids under 13 and too juvenile for older teens & adults. Although the former's true the latter is poppycock. Anyone who's been to high school (or is going through it) and is slightly familiar with cheerleaders will relate to "Bring it On" and be entertained. The flick successfully balances high school dramedy with sports movie conventions while satirizing cheerleaders; it's kinetic, smart, amusing, irreverent, over-the-top and realistic at the same time.
Ebert also denounced the film on the grounds that the movie is condescending toward high school minorities. Baloney. It simply reflects reality in that inner city schools in America are predominantly black and lack the funds of more affluent suburban schools.
Dunst and Dushku are good protagonists and easily carry the film, but they never appealed to me much, which isn't to say I dislike them. But it doesn't matter because there are so many peripheral cuties on hand. "All or Nothing" is easily the best in the series as far as female cast goes (highlighted by Hayden Panettiere and Danielle Savre).
The film runs 98 minutes and was shot entirely in the San Diego area.
GRADE: B