REVIEW: Bring It On (Released in 2000) [20th Anniversary]

DIRECTOR: Peyton Reed

PRODUCERS: Marc Abraham & Thomas A. Bliss

WRITER: Jessica Bendinger

PERFORMERS: Kirsten Dunst Eliza Dushku Jesse Bradford Gabrielle Union Claire Kramer

Nicole Bilderback Nathan West Huntley Ritter Brandi Williams Shmari Fears Natina Reed

Richard Hillman

I remember when I was i high school, sports and teams were a very big deal, especially given the time period. I played on the Varsity Football team for the final two years of high school and of course, I had fun. Then there's the cheerleader squad who supports you're games both away and at home turf. It wasn't until this film came along I saw a different side of it that wasn't looked upon every day or as often as it is now. The competition side of cheerleading and the things that they themselves go through to win a championship title themselves besides just cheering for us athletes all the time. Bring it On is an interesting take on the world of professional and comeptetive cheerleading in the viewpoint of hig schooling.

Released in 2000 when I was just a junior at the time, this told the story of a successful cheerleading squad scrambling against the clock to choreograph a powerhouse routine number when the team's new captain (KIRSTEN DUNST) discovers their past numbers were copied illegally from a East Compton group by their last leader. This sets a chain of events that changes everything as the film progresses, you almost don't know who to side with, the Toros or the Clovers (though you understand where they are coming from). If I had to side with either of them, it would have to be the Clovers because their reputation was constantly looked down upon and in those days, reputation was a super important thing to a group. So when Gabrielle Union's character leads the Clovers you know how things are going to play out. Basically her character stood out to me as someone who's strong, independent and willing to make her goal happen. Dunst's character is someone I saw as an up and coming leader who gets more than she bargained for when she becomes the team's leader. Even when she and Union were face to face for the first time, she plays the innocent type with conviction. 'I didn't know about this, I'm sorry. But I have every right intention to make this right'. If anything Dunst goes through the most change, her family being so absent-minded, her boyfriend being totally unsupportive and trying to use whatever methods possible to make it right... while in the process, becoming a true leader that the last one was not.

The tone of the film wasn't much as the reviews of the past suggests, but the pacing was one of the good things about it. Some say it didn't take itself too seriously to have a story or a purpose, but I personally disagree. I think it was a teen film in the middle of it's time and one that broke all the rules of your average teenage culture film. Not your typical John Hughes type, but in it's own way a take on those films from him and being seen in a new way never before seen... exploring the team behind the fields and blending the elements of coming-of-age, romance, comedy, under privilege, wealthy privilege and determination. Put all that in a film like this and how can you go wrong? It even shows that not all over privilege folks are bad, they just need to recognize the unfortunate more often because someone they know could be in that position too, not just the oppressed. And Union's stand for the oppressed is major highlight in this film, she tells Dunst to bring it, which is exactly what she does. Instead of taking charity from her, she decides to remind her of what's important as a captain. Help is always good, but coming from the team you're up against is something to consider. In the end, both girls had something to learn from each other and as they do, the payoff results in both of them gaining something they never even expected. In regards to the tone and pacing of this film, what more could you expect? Let alone anticipate?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 2 TIMOTHY 4:7 NIV

Seeing this film again after so many years it's made me realize something. I've always had a fair sportsmanship viewpoint to athletic competition that winning or losing may not mix or match, but the more you work, the closer you get to victory. Well here's what I get: if you have the faith, you have the determination. If you have the will, you have the nerve... and if you have the drive, you have the strength to win. And even if you win 2nd or 3rd place, doing your best, just as the squads did, is all anyone can ask for. That's the journey these people go on, they come up with their own material without ripping it off from the other side and call it their own and in the climax of the film, both numbers are so powerhouse you think 'WOW! That's original!' Maybe the film was revolved around the white team, but at least they had heart as did Dunst in particular. When confronted by the ex-captain it was like looking at the devil being set up for the failure she was meant to endure (LUKE 10:18 NIV) for her part of dishonesty and trying to use it to win. That to me is certainly deceitful and dishonest. After that you never see or hear from her again and I thought it would have been nice to see her get what she deserves for her actions against the East Compton squad.

Despite the adult content in the film and often raunchy moments, this was a film of it's time that defined a generation of the next several years that came and went (like I said this was released in my junior high school year). It was just what it was supposed to be: a good film with a good premise and cast and a look behind the scenes of cheerleading never seen before (even John Hughes himself, would have been proud!). Over the years it even had me thinking 'I wonder if I would have joined the team if I knew that boys were allowed to join?' Of course, I probably still would have wanted to do Football more anyway because I was a huge fan of the sport itself. The film was good the way it was and it was original, that's why it took on a life of it's own as the years went by... from several straight to video titles to a broadway musical, this was quite a turning point in the teen genre. Though there has never been anything quite like it, there still isn't and when those who saw this when they were young like I was still remember what it felt like when seeing this for the first time. But as a critic today I can honestly say, I don't see this as different from the ones before it but rather right up there with them... one that each generation can observe and see for themselves what it brings to the table, just as the squads do to each other: BRING IT ON! This makes you want to cheer, get up, dance, learn and even get entranced into the teams themselves and after 20 years, still holds that effect to this day. Happy 20th Anniversary and remember: Bring it!

#anniversaryreviews #filmsof2000 #bringiton20thanniversary #BIO20 #universalpictures #cheerleading