Bring It On

Reed, Peyton. Bring it On. Universal Studios (2000). ASIN B00003CXMP

Plot Summary

                Torrance is a very peppy high school cheerleader who has just been named the leader of her squad, the Toros.  During her first practice as captain, one of her girls gets injured as she is forced to find a replacement.  Try outs are held and no one is even close to being good enough until a real gymnast walks in.  Unfortunately, she looks nothing like the pretty cheerleader they’re looking for.  Her talent is too good, however, and they let her, Missy, on to the squad.  Things are going ok until Missy notices that all of the Toros cheers have been stolen from a rival cheer squad, the Clovers.  A nasty rival ensues as both squads try to make it to Nationals and beat the other. 

Critical Evaluation

                Bring It On is a light-hearted romp into the world of competitive cheerleading.  The over the top personalities are hilarious, many of the cheerleaders fitting one stereotype of preppy girl.  Many may see this movie as pointless with no merit but to those cheerleaders out there, this is now a classic.  This movie portrays the ups and downs teens can experience and how, even in cheerleading, there is a code of morals that must be adhered to.  Plus, all the stunts and routines are really fun to watch.  (If you haven’t guessed, I was a cheerleader for many years).

Reader’s Annotation

Come experience what it’s like to be a part of competitive cheerleading and see which squad will win Nationals. 

Author’s Information

Reed was born in North Carolina and has directed several comedy films and television shows.  Other than Bring It On, Reed has directed The Break-Up and Yes Man. 

Genre

DVD

Book Talking Ideas

Bring It On isn’t just about cheerleading.  It’s a story about a group of girls in high school dealing with normal high school pressures while juggling everything else that happens during that time in their lives.  The comedy is hilarious and the girls are anything but perfect. 

Reading Level/Interest

13/16

Challenge Issues

There are several sexual references and language present in this film.  All I can say to that is that this film is meant for an older audience of teens, even though its rating is PG-13.  It is probably a little inappropriate for anyone under 15, probably best suited for 16 and up. 

Why Include This Title?

This is a relatively clean, teen oriented movie.  It explores the world of cheerleading in a very humorous, self-deprecating way that viewers appreciate.