Bring It On Again

Review by: Jennifer Krieger

JenniferKrieger@TheCinemaSource.com

Oddly, The DVD of Bring It On Again doesn't let you skip the previews, but requires you to fast-forward through them, so before the movie even begins the audience is lured to rent The Skulls III and Johnny English giving us a nice little indicator of the quality of what's to come. The first Bring It On was a surprisingly engaging little picture that didn't aspire to be much, but succeeded due largely to the charisma of ultra-spunky Kirsten Dunst and some really amazing cheerleading routines. It was the ultimate guilty pleasure, all bouncy and chirpy and pretty to watch; its vapidity revealed only when it attempted to address bigger social issues like class and race. Bring It On Again immediately puts to rest any fears that 'bigger issues' will be addressed; the black, sassy, defiant inner-city girl Monica (Faune Chambers) is now Whittier's (Anne Hudson-Yager) best friend and her reaction to the news that the dorm they live in is named after a former Slave-owner is to giggle and say "but it has a ceiling fan." 'Don't worry' the movie promises, we won't even try this time. What Bring It On Again does promise from the get-go to be nothing more then a bon-bon of a movie, saccharine and sweet, not to aspire to be anything more. Unfortunately, whether it even succeeds at being a guilty pleasure is questionable.

The plot picks up after our intrepid heroine Whittier has graduated from high school and found herself at California State University. Naturally she and Monica try out for the cheerleading squad and both catch the eye of head cheerleader Tina (Bree Turner) who sees a potential captain in Whittier and potential rival in Monica. Predictably, Whittier finds herself in a situation where she will have to choose between her life, her best friend, her new boyfriend (deemed 'inappropriate' by Tina) and the cheerleading squad. The outcome of her choice probably won't come as much of a surprise. And a whole new plot begins with Whittier and Monica heading up a new squad and then going face-to-face with Tina's for the right to represent the school in Nationals. As they throw together a lack-luster group compiled of other clubs who have lost their funding, you can practically hear the Rocky theme song playing the background; their fate is sealed even before the inevitable, pre-competition 'cheer-off'

Unfortunately, for us, this twist means we get to see less of the deliciously evil, unfailingly peppy Tina and more of the humdrum decent characters. Judson-Yager and Chambers are merely blander versions of their original characters, both appealing actresses, but both lacking the charisma and spunk to carry the movie. Ironically, Judson-Yager, a former dancer with broad, muscular arms and legs, is more physically convincing as a cheerleader then the waif-like Dunst was,

but where she's got the body, she lacks the spunkiness. As peppy and pretty as she is, she just isn't a compelling character to watch; even her midnight swim with 'bad-boy' Derek (Richard Lee Jackson) is tame.

While Bring It On was hardly a big risk-taker, at least it was original; this new version basically takes on old clichés and strings them together. That said, it does have some funny moments; when the requisite "angst-ridden, black-wearing girl" asks "Do you have a cheer for anguish?" When the lecherous Dean emerges from the shadows of the gym and addresses Tina as "Cherub," or when the "Renegades" bust out on stage in monk costumes, perhaps a giggle can be mustered. Moreover, where the plot lacks originality, the insults ("insecure tanorexic", "hobbit" and "don't be all up in my Kool-Aid") are ridiculously funny. It's too bad the rest of the movie couldn't revel in its silliness.

As the credits roll we get to see outtakes and the hijinks of the cast while "Hit me with you best shot" plays in the background, and they all look like their having a great time. Indeed, they look like a spunky, energetic group, almost like cheerleaders, all perky, pretty and smiling, and all utterly oblivious to the fact that they're cheering for a losing movie.

Movie Grade: C
DVD Grade:C
Overall Grade:C