GOING FOR GOLD

Australia, 2018, 93 minutes, Colour.
Kelli Berglund. Emily Morris, Terry Rogers, Ruth Natalie Fallon, Jo Stone, Elysia Markou, Daisy Anderson, Jess Kuss, Boone Sterck, Henry Turczynowicz.
Directed by Clay Glen.

This is the third film by writer-director Clay Glen on girls' gymnastics and cheerleading, A Second Chance, Raising the Bar. The films have not received encouraging reviews.

Kirsten Dunst starred in the cheerleading film, Bring it On, in the early 2000s and there was a series of sequels and some imitations. This is an Australian version.

An American girl, Emma, played by Kelli Berglund, comes to Adelaide, befriends Hannah, her neighbour, is interested in gymnastics, offers to coach in cheerleading when the gymnastic competition fails, recruits some girls, recruits some young men from the football codes. There is also a rival group, some of them specialise in cattiness.

The variation on the theme is that the team incorporate moves from rugby, Australian Rules, gymnastics, combine them in a successful routine.

The American girl stays in Australia. Romances is in the air. And the main girls from the rival team admire the winners and join them.

1. The popularity of the cheerleading films, the American series Bring it On? An Australian version? Derivative? Enjoyable?

2. The target audience, young audience, female, all ages, males? The Australian style?

3. The city of Adelaide, the views, scenery, ordinariness, homes, schools, sports fields, rehearsals, competitions?

4. The range of the musical score, especially for the gymnastics and the cheerleading performances?

5. The film from Emma's point of view, San Diego, the mother's death, her father and the air force, moving around, the voice-over and comments, going to Australia, going to Adelaide, the house, the meeting with Susan and Hannah?

6. Emma, making friends, the encounter with Ethan, football? Going to the gym? Gymnastics, the competition, the exclusion and failure?

7. Emma and cheerleading, information about Australian competitions, rivals?

8. Emma, her father, the decision to return home, Emma upset?

9. The rivals, Abi and her group, Charlotte and her skills, the group, reaction to Hannah and Emma?

10. Recruiting the girls, the gymnasts? Recruiting the boys, Rugby, Australian rules? The coach?

11. The preparation for competition, rehearsals, routines, difficulties? The coach and her place? The two boys, Hannah and her attachment, Emma and her kiss and the revelation that she was being coached?

12. The range of moves, from gymnastics, the football codes, the combination for routines? Rehearsals and falls?

13. The performance, success? Abi sneering? Charlotte and her admiration? The girls abandoning Abi – and forming a combined group with Emma and Hannah?