Bring it On (2000)

“I'm sexy, I'm cute,

I'm popular to boot.

I'm bitchin', great hair,

The boys all love to stare,

I'm wanted, I'm hot,

I'm everything you're not,

I'm pretty, I'm cool,

I dominate this school,

Who am I? Just guess,

Guys wanna touch my chest,

I'm rockin', I smile,

And many think I'm vile”

     Released in August of 2000, Bring it On was popular at the box office, taking in a gross of approximately $90,449,929 worldwide. The film follows the struggle of California’s Rancho Carne High cheerleading squad, the Toros, to the national cheer competition. The squad is headed by newly crowned and idealistic captain Torrance Shipman, (Kirsten Dunst) who intends to take the competition honestly. The movie is focused on the cheer competition, but it also documents Torrance’s friendship with new recruit Missy Pantone (Eliza Dushku) as well as leaving a little room for romance (it is a teen movie, after all).

     This movie’s strong point is definitely found in its “comedy” and “cheerleading” aspects. Effective touches of humour include the deft incorporation of self-referential humour and some rare off-the-wall scenes in the vein of Napoleon Dynamite. These laugh-out-loud funny scenes include the team’s open tryouts, shots of the other very serious teams at nationals, and the tutelage of choreographer Sparky Polastri and his trademark “spirit fingers”. Where the movie struggles is the “romantic” component of romantic comedy. The romance felt boring, formulaic, and even unnecessary to the story, especially after bearing witness to the more complex, realistic, or enjoyable romantic relationships in the other films. Even when contrasted to its closet chronological counterpart, Clueless, the relationships in Bring it On pale in comparison. While formulaic romance can clearly be fun to witness, (as Taylor Swift music videos clearly demonstrate) they require the audience to be attached to the characters involved. The audience has to really want that fairytale ending. The characters in Bring it On are relatively one-sided, which is understandable, as the movie dedicates a sizeable chunk of its time to competition sequences rather than, say, dialogue. I cared more about the Toros succeeding at nationals than I did about any of the characters’ romantic entanglements. The only part of any of the characters’ home lives the audience is introduced to is Torrance’s accurately annoying younger brother.

                                          

     If anything, Bring it On introduced the 1982 song “Mickie”, by Toni Basil, to a large, young audience which immediately embraced the nasal anthem. I can clearly recall many third grade talent show dance routines set to the song.

     So why has Bring It On remained popular? A string of direct-to-DVD releases has kept the series on life support for an audience of “tweens”, who see the energetic and popular cheerleaders as aspirational figures. Bring it On strikes me as a film that someone might enjoy in elementary school, but not one that will likely be revisited beyond that time. I strongly doubt that Bring it On could remain anyone’s favourite movie past the age of 14. However, this film is clearly a seventh grade girl’s paradise and evidently perfect viewing for a sleepover. The characters are all appealingly clean-cut, popular, and essentially trouble-free. The movie’s message, be true to yourself, is honourable, and the subject matter, cheerleading, is energetic and fun. The film is airy and harmless, and younger “tweens” and children will enjoy it. However, for a more mature audience, there’s not much there besides a couple of good laughs, which, granted, is more than you get in many movies.  The movie contains just enough of what “tweens” will deem “mature” (read: sexual) humour, which is somewhat awkwardly dropped in, considering the overwhelming innocence of the storyline, to allow it to be taken seriously by the “tween” audience.

Rating:

2/5 Pom Poms

The Verdict: Bring it On should not be deemed a classic teen movie because it is:

a)      missing the spark of originality

b)      most appealing to a “tween” audience, not a teen audience

c)      relatively shallow and one-dimensional when compared to other movies on the list.

Should You Watch it?

     At this point in The Classic Teen Movie Project, I have viewed some great movies. If I could influence a small number of people to delve into a past that reaches farther back than the new release rack, I would certainly direct them to any of the other films first.  Bring it On would be suitable viewing with a younger sister in sixth or seventh grade, or if you are trapped in a friend’s house and your other option is a bad Adam Sandler movie. Bring it On is not an inherently “bad” film. You will likely get a laugh or two, but the lack of real emotion in the characters and story will leave you with an empty feeling.

Directors: Peyton Reed and Jim Rowley

Writer: Jessica Bendinger

Starring: Kirsten Dunst

Eliza Dushku

Jesse Bradford

Gabrielle Union