Starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku and Gabrielle Union
"Bring It On" is the movie that tries to tackle the enigma known as high school cheerleaders. Despite a gratuitous preview altering initial expectations, the movie proves to be a surprisingly enjoyable experience and could lay claim to the title of best cheerleading movie not featuring "camp" or "Massacre" in the title.
Blending aspects of teen movies, sports movies and a dash of exploitative movies (the car wash scene in bathing suits is integral to the plot), "Bring It ON" does not take itself too seriously, nor does it overtly offend those who cheer for sport. Or, to put it another way, the movie may entice with bare midriffs, but it has a good personality at the center of the attractiveness.
Kirsten Dunst stars as Torrance Shipman, the captain of the mondo-successful cheerleading team from Rancho Carne High School in California. She has inherited a team ripe for a sixth straight national championship (those things you see on ESPN while waiting for Sportscenter).
The team is an amalgam of preconceived notions about cheerleaders -- a lot of makeup, turned-up noses and effeminate males. This close-knit group is thrown for a loop witht he appearance of Missy Pantone (Eliza Dushku), a fantastic gymnast who looks more like the girl that would slap a cheerleader rather than actually be one. But in a touching moment, the ability to do crazy backflips and round-offs barely enables Missy to make the team.
Just as Missy hops aboard the train to championship land, the foundation of the team's success is put on shaky ground, even for California. Torrance views the performance of the East Compton Clover squad, a squad that uses the exact same moves as the champions. The previous Rancho Carne Toros captain evidently stole the Clover moves and called them her own.
East Compton, a school from the wrong side of the monorail tracks, and Rancho Carne epitomize the main differences within popular music. While the Clovers are more like Destiny's Child (members of the group Blaque are featured on the squad), the Toros are similar to the Britney Spears mold.
Thus, the conflict dish is ready to serve, with distinct rivals in perfect place. The Toros are forced to be original and create a new routine (this is the point where the pop music metaphor ends) and the Clovers, while talented, are in dire need of money to make the trip to nationals.
Because of the Teen Movie Bylaws of 1998 (approved by John Cusack), there also must be a love story intertwined with the dancing. Torrance has a smarmy boyfriend doing not-so-nice things while away, but in the meantime, she is smitten by Missy's brother, Cliff (Jesse Bradford). He captivates her with romance Clash style -- with a mix tape and a killer smirk. Torrance's casbah has been rocked.
Despite a few daliances with annoyance ("You put the 'duh' in "dumb"), the enjoyment level of "Bring It On" remains high because of the lead characters. Isis (Gabrielle Union), the head cheerleader for the Clovers, gives the right amount of attitude without coming off as "that word that rhymes with witch."
And the Torrance/Cliff romance builds nicely, with the necessary romance but a constant spark in each other's eyes, indicative of both highly energetic actors and a story that can keep the gleam going. This movie peaks with a very witty teeth-brushing scene sequence with a slow build of subtle humor, not taking the "Scary Movie" way out.
While Bradford doesn't reach the pinnacle of teen movie boys (Cusack and Heath Ledger are on that Mount Crushmore), he plays the romantic loner well. But most of the movie theater traffic will result from the Dunst appeal and her obvious talents. She's a good actress, too, in case the boys looking for skin were wondering.
If only they could have worked in a cheerleading sequence at the prom. Then all would be right in this teen-movie land.
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