Like "Clueless", Only Awful

Rating: 1/10 (13 February 2001)

This is one of those odd movies that, while not taking themselves seriously enough to be a drama, just isn't funny, and thus can't be truly considered a comedy either. The acting is for the most part believable, but there just isn't anything to the movie up until the last 10 minutes.
The thing I find most curious about this movie, however, was the lack for the most part of the East Compton Clovers (the black cheerleading squad) in the movie. While it would've been more interesting to focus on their side of the conflict, they are instead given a few scant appearances to advance the plot, as opposed to actually being part of the movie. When they are present, all but one exhibit the tired, demeaning "dumb ghetto girl" persona.
So, instead, the film centers on the unlikable white squad with the stolen routines and their likable leader with conscience, played by Kirsten Dunst. The leader, a senior, is worried about her team losing, since all she can do is cheerleading. Just when the problem is introduced, however, the movie has moved on, bypassing what could've been a more interesting plot line to center more on the dull goings-on as the team scrambles to learn some new cheerleading routines, as romance brews for Dunst.
With romance, conflict, and cheerleaders, this film is perfectly set up. But the lack of humor and interest cause the pyramid to quickly topple. But hey, at least there are the cheerleaders...