This is a cheerocracy. (Bring It On (DVD))

Member Name: dooeyyooey

Product:	Bring It On (DVD)
Date:	27/05/09 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quite funny in parts, well-acted.

Disadvantages: Bombastic music too loud

"Cheerleaders are dancers that have gone retarded."

And there can never be too many films about them...

In Rancho Carne High School, Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) is elected to replace Big Red (Lindsay Sloane) as the head of the school's cheerleading squad - the national cheerleading champions "Toros".

She plans to lead her squad to a sixth consecutive national championship title, and the cheerleaders hold auditions to find a new member.
The only candidate that shows competence for the position is Missy (Eliza Dushku), a gymnast who recently moved to the area who decided to try out for cheerleader since the school has no gymnastics.

Missy joins the squad only to realise at the first practice session that the routine the Toros are rehearsing is not original, that it has been copied from an inner city high school in L.A. whose impoverished squad, the Clovers, has not been able to afford to attend the national championships.

As Torrance discovers that all their previous winning routines had also been stolen from the Clovers by Big Red, she is determined that the squad show their true worth and win the coming championship fairly.

Meanwhile, the inner-city cheerleaders, led by Isis (Gabrielle Union), have vowed to find the funding needed to make it to the National Championships this time, to finally show the cheerleading world who's the greatest of them all.

This is a light-hearted teen film that is cliched but self-consciously so, and which goes through the whole predictable plot with a healthy sense of humour.

The performances are good.
Kirsten, as usual, is super efficient as the ambitious but well-intentioned Torrance, while Gabrielle Union does a great job as the tough leader of the rival squad.

Lindsay Sloane is excellent as Big Red, the outgoing head cheerleader, despite appearing in only a few scenes.

There are also some fine performances from the supporting cast, which includes Jesse Bradford, Clare Kramer and Nicole Bilderback.

The action moves along well, spliced with enough loud, manic cheers to fray the nerves of those of a more sensitive disposition.
The best part, however, was at the very beginning. The opening segment is a hilarious, accutely honest examination of "being a cheerleader".

"We cheer and we lead
We act like we're on speed
Hate us 'cause we're beautiful
Well we don't like you either!
We're chearleaders!"

Catchy tune, too.

The end credits also provide one of the best moments of the film, to the sound of Toni Basil's "Mickey".

This is an energetic, entertaining film, recommendend for those who are looking for something fun to watch.

Summary: Rather good teen comedy