Quirky and real

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2004)

I've always admired cheerleading, ever since I was a kid, and I was tired of seeing cheerleaders portrayed as ditzy blondes who didn't know what they were doing. In this movie, though they have the blonde part down, the ditziness is replaced by hard core competition. Yes, my friends, cheerleading is a sport.
Kirsten Dunst has held her own as a veteran who has appeared in over 40 films since her debut as a pint-sized bloodsucker in Interview With The Vampire, and in this movie she portrays the typical cheerleading captain as a woman who deserves respect...having to deal with the stress of competition, the boredom of football games (ok...that football team was just sad) and the hard core rivalry of captain to captain.
The first time I saw Eliza Dushku she was wearing black leather kicking random vampire ass alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar. She has graduated a long ways since then. With roles in horror flicks and cheesy comedies, she has established herself as a woman who can take on a leading role...and held her own alongside Kirsten Dunst.
Peyton Reed is a rookie, but he shows true signs of being a master of quirky comedy with romantic hints.
All in all, this movie reminded me how much certain sport is overlooked and how cheerleaders, though deemed the stupidest chicks on earth, are serious and somewhat intelligent.
Did anyone else think that the guy who played Jan is HOT?! Somebody give Nathan West some more roles!
I also noticed one more thing....two Buffy veterans were in this movie. GO CLARE KRAMER!!
Good movie. Thumbs up. Watch it.