Bring It On
You wouldn't think a movie about cheerleaders and a rivalry between teams would be any good, but "Bring It On" manages to be lightning in a bottle that has yet to be topped by its terrible sequels. Not that cheerleading isn't interesting, but "Bring It On" is such an entertaining and funny sports film, it sets the standard for movies about cheerleaders that has yet to be equaled or rivaled in quality. Director Peyton Reed's film is a mix of comedy, drama, and light commentary on race and class warfare.
A very attractive Kirsten Dunst (once the heart throb of many teen boys in 2000) stars as Torrance, a talented cheerleader who inherits her cheerleading squad The Toros from the dictatorial head cheerleader "Big Red."" Seeking to change the way the cheerleaders perform, while garnering their respect, she recruits new cheerleader Missy, a rebellious ex-gymnast who begrudgingly joins the squad. If that's not making Torrance's life difficult enough, Missy informs Torrance, much to her dismay, that the routine the Toros have performed for years is stolen from an inner city East Compton squad The Clovers. Torrance is shocked to learn that Missy isn't only correct, but that the rival head cheerleader Isis is very aware of the theft.
She wants to show Torrance and her group that they deserve the recognition for their routine, and intend on taking them to nationals to finally earn the credit. "Bring It On" straddles being controversial, in spite of being mainly a bubbly sports film about rival cheerleaders. There's no real villain in the film, despite the occasional heel and obnoxious character fighting for dominance on the team, or making Torrance's life difficult. The cheerleaders on the Clovers are in every right to be infuriated by the artistic theft, while Torrance and her group is kept empathetic and likable, placing them in a spot where they have to start from square one thanks to the inherent plagiarism, and figure out how to carve their own niche as a squad. The subtext of race and class become ever more volatile, as director Reed subtly explores the idea of the privileged mostly upper class school stealing and plagiarizing from the lower class inner city for so many years with barely a peep heard from either community.
What adds to the undertones of racism is that former head cheerleader "Big Red" isn't apologetic and feels entitled to their creativity. That changes as Isis, played well by Gabrielle Union fights to keep her squad dignified, even turning down Torrance's efforts to fund their trip to the national competition. While "Bring It On" does pull off the dual storylines, more emphasis on Isis and her team would really have turned "Bring It On" in to a more complex sports comedy. That said, "Bring It On" hasn't aged at all, garnering great performances from Dunst, Union, and Eliza Dushku, while bringing legitimately great dance and stunt choreography to the table. Much like "Mean Girls,"" Peyton Reed sneaks in very subversive themes in to what is a well written and fun sports comedy.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls isn't your average teen comedy, which you can tell are written by adults who have no insight into the social politics that revolve around teenage life, and who consequently divide everyone into two groups - cool (jocks and cheerleaders) and uncool (goths and science nerds). And it is this inherent understanding of teen life, that writer Tina Fey has applied to the film which makes it stand out, and such a pleasure to watch.
Cady Herron (played by Lindsay Lohan) is starting her first day of school - and she's 16. She's been home-schooled all her life (in Africa), and is totally unprepared for and untutored in the ways of an American high school. She quickly befriends Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), two of the biggest social outcasts in school. However, after a chance encounter in the canteen with the plastics (teen royalty), otherwise known as Regina George (Rachel Macadams), Gretched Wieners (Lacey Chabert) and Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried), Cady's world begins to change dramatically as she is sucked in by the rules and cliques of Girlworld.
The dialogue in the film is sharp and witty, not the OTT Dawson's Creek or O.C. teen-speak. The teenagers actually look like teenagers, not like 30 year olds playing teenagers. And what holds the film together are the great performances from the actors. They're all perfect. Lindsay Lohan is perfect as Cady, the clueless girl who gets a taste of popularity and has to have more. Lizzy Caplan is a revelation as Janis, a punk character who would be sidelined either as a freak, or as a candidate for a makeover, in any other teen movie.
But it is the actresses who play the plastics who truly stand out. Lacey Chabert is ideal as Gretchen, the insecure, 2nd-in command girl, who fakes her friendship with Regina just to be considered popular. Amanda Seyfried, as the ultimate dumb blonde Karen, has impeccable comic timing. And rising Hollywood star Rachel Macadams, as Regina George, is the stand-out in the film as the manipulative bitch who has to stay on top at all costs.
Mean Girls isn't just a film for teen girls and gay guys. Most of my (straight) male friends love it, and everyone I know who's seen it recognises elements of the film and the characters from their own secondary school experiences. Mean Girls is, as Gretchen would say (in keeping with "British" slang, even though I'm English and the term just doesn't exist!), that the film is just So Fetch.
Project X
This is a movie filled with hilarious laughs, over the top characters and many crazy ideas that you should enjoy with your friends in the movie theatres or watch at home in an appropriated atmosphere. Once you saw this you might know what I mean. This movie makes you want to break free, have some fun and get out to have the party of your life but of course you should not do any of what the movie shows us at your home.
In the end, the main character prefers to celebrate his next birthday with the girl he likes and loves instead of having a big party just to get famous at school and this is where the movie shows us the real sense of life and morality. I must admit that some characters are even pretty well developed for this kind of movie and represent quite well three naive teenage guys that play the main role. You have the sneaky and egoistic guy who only wants to have a hell load of fun, the more responsible and naive birthday child and the shy and awkward young man who risks everything to be cool and live the best night of his life.
The rest is great and of course superficial entertainment. You simply have to switch your brains off and enjoy it. Of course this epic movie is not a joy ride for everyone.
It's about drugs, it's about alcohol, it's about sex but you should see all of this coming. This movie contains probably more swear words and bad gestures than a gangster rap album and more naked women than a regular porn flick and might not please to younger and older audiences. I'm not used to watch this kind of movie at all as I watch rather exotic and intellectual stuff but it's a light and welcome change of my usual habits and I enjoyed it and would definitely watch it again.
10 Things I Hate About You
You know how teen flicks are usually shallow, stereotypical, poorly written tripe? And you know how most romantic comedies are shallow, stereotypical, chick flicks? Well, this film will forever put those films to shame. Brilliantly written, funny and warm this film deserves a spot on everyone's Watched list. And anybody with a teenager should buy a hard copy, because they will love it.
I feel that I am fairly well qualified to write a review of this film, as I have been conducting an unofficial study of teenage behaviour for the last 25 years as a high school teacher, and I have been showing this film to my classes every year since about 2000. All up, I have probably watched this film about 5 times a year for the last 15 years. And I still enjoy it! The writers are to be commended for this film - rarely do you see a film that can blend comedy with true human experience. This is a film where every scene and every shot has been carefully crafted - and the meaning is not lost on a younger audience.
I could write about the storyline here, or give you a few of the many really funny one liners or tell you about the brilliant casting (the actors really are perfect). But instead I will just leave you with this - nearly 2 decades on and this film is STILL enthralling teenage audiences. For that alone it deserves a spot in the list of greatest teen flicks of all time. Students, today, have stills of this film on their smart phones and they tell me it's their favourite film, like, ever. Do you know how nearly impossible that is? To create a teenage flick that both guys and girls will love? Or a film with a PG rating but young adult humour? Or to make a film about teenage angst where every viewer walks away identifying with the characters and feeling empowered? Lets not hold back here, a film that can win over audience after audience, for nearly two decades deserves 10 stars - even if it is just a light hearted, teen comedy. I'm bringing out my green pen and giving this a great big tick and smiley face, well done.