BRING IT ON
US, 2000, 98 minutes, Colour.
Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, Gabrielle Union.
Directed by Peyton Reed.
An engaging piece of cinema fluff about cheerleaders (female and male) who put an extraordinary amount of energy into their routines for national competitions (and could make a case for it being an Olympics sport!).
Fine young actress Kirsten Dunst gives her life to her team despite jealousies, betrayals and stolen routines. It pokes some fun at its subject but is not a black comical spoof as was Drop Dead Gorgeous which attacked beauty pageants and which also starred Kirsten Dunst.
It had five sequels with Bring it on in the title and it influenced many of the prolific spate of dense competition films as well is films like Pitch Perfect and its sequels.
1. High school comedy? The intended audience? A film for girls? The response of boys? Parents?
2. California, the end of the 20th century? Students at home, family sequences? Students at school? The cheerleaders? The football? The rehearsals?
3. Kirsten Dunst as Torrance? Age, enthusiasm, with her parents, with her brother and their clashes, Aaron as her boyfriend, adviser? Her wanting to be captain of the team? The announcement and her success? Taking over, the rehearsals?
4. The members of the team, supporters, critics, clashes? The men? The performances at the sports matches? The rehearsals for the competition?
5. In class, Cliff, the boys slinging off and his reply? The friendship with Torrance? The range of auditions, the comedy of the various competitors? Missy, gymnastics, surly? Her abilities? Torrance going to find her, encountering Cliff? Attracted? Dreaming about him?
6. Torrance, the friendship with Missy, the drive to see the rival group, Isis and the African- American group? Their moves – and the fact that the former captain had stolen all the moods?
7. Aaron, fickle, giving advice about the choreographer? His arrival, manner, martinet, their collecting the money?
8. Going to the competition, their performance, and their performing the same routines? The reaction of the public? The disappointment, not being expelled because of previous wins? Isis and the girls coming to demonstrate the routine at the football match?
9. Their having to form their own routines? Gymnastic, athletic, their preparations?
10. Torrance getting her father give the money to support Isis and the girls coming to the competition, offering it, Isis and her defiance, tearing up the check?
11. Torrance breaking off with Aaron and discovering him with the other girl?
12. On-again, off-again with Cliff? His coming to the performance, pretence, the reconciliation?
13. The competition, the performers, Torrance and her group, success? Isis and her group? The awards, Torrance coming second and satisfied with that, congratulating Isis and the others with their win?
14. Cheerful, audiences enjoying all the routines, the ethos of the cheerleaders, men and women, competitions and rivalries?
