Bring It On: In It To Win It
This is the fourth chapter
in the Bring It On franchise. (How is that possible? Has
anyone seen the first three?) Now, only one of these films actually
made it into the multiplexes. Never saw that one, nor have I caught
any of the sequels. Therefore, maybe I am missing some important story
thread. There must be more to the series than this.
This story about an east
coast/west coast cheerleading grudge match appears to trying to equate
cheer with gang warfare. More specifically, they are trying to make
this film into a West Side Story for the aughties. In case you
missed that connection, it is pounded in with the two cheerleading squads called the Jets and the Sharks.
This east-west feud (and
yes, there is even a Biggie vs. Tupac reference) matches up the beautiful
nice girl (Ashley Benson) from the west and the beautiful bitchy girl
(Cassie Scerbo in a performance which appears to be set on automatic snap).
Both girls are trying to lead their squads to win a national cheer
competition.
Things become even more
cutthroat when the nice girl falls for a handsome (but frankly slightly
sleazy) guy she meets and it turns out he is on the other team.
Then, it seems that the bitchy girl likes him, too. As if they didn't
have enough reasons to hate each other. (Umm..., what were those
again???)
Other stereotypes abound
the friends include the flamboyant gay male cheerleader who becomes
everybody's confidante, the street-smart black cheerleader, the total
airhead sidekick for the bitchy one... you get the idea.
Then there is Sarah, the
goth cheerleader. You can tell she is goth because she has black hair,
talks about death a lot, wears a black fishnet top over her uniform and a
black bikini when they go to the pool. That's about as dark as
Bring It On: In It To Win It gets.
There are a few odd
subplots of superstition the teams are cursed when they lose a lucky
stick. Don't ask.
The movie is filmed at
Universal Studios Orlando Theme Park and the movie could easily be used
as a feature length advertisement for the place. You see the kids
walking all through the park, riding the rides, eating the food, having the
time of their life. Made me want to go.
The story is kind of silly,
the dialogue is absurd, the acting is over the top and the choreography is
interesting at first but eventually becomes kind of boring.
Then again, apparently what
the Bring It On series is really about is hot girls (and guys)
misbehaving and talking trash while in skimpy cheerleading outfits. On that
level, mission accomplished.
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2007 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: December 21, 2007.
