Originally published August 25, 2020 at Cinema76.com
For a woman who is about to turn 30, reflecting on the anniversary of a childhood favorite makes me truly feel my age. With the nickname Tori I people frequently yelled “I got the door Tor!” so of course I needed to understand the reference. Regardless of our social groups and interest in cheerleading it seemed like this was essential viewing for any girl my age. This was one of those movies that you had to see or face the social shame. You could be kicked out of a slumber party for not getting the references, it was a big deal. It has been quite a long time since I have visited this 2000s gem but there is still a lot to love with this cult classic, as well as some aspects that like many films of this time have not aged the best.
Bring it on is a 2000 film from director Peyton Reed (Antman). If you are one of those unfortunate souls who did not get a chance to see this growing up, the film follows Torrence Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) who has just become the captain of the award winning cheer squad the Toro’s. There is a lot of pressure for her to make sure the team goes on to win their championship again but she gets much more than she bargains for. Torrence and her new member Missy (Eliza Dushku) realize that the former captain stole all of their routines from the East Compton Clovers, an inner city squad captained by Isis (Gabrielle Union). With championships coming up they have to decide the future of their squad and work on an original routine.
At the end of the day this is a fan favorite, because it’s fun! There are a ton of great choreographed scenes that make you want to get up and dance. The cast has a ton of chemistry and it has heart. Who doesn’t love a film that ends with a sing along/blooper reel?
It is full of familiar 90’s/2000s faces such as Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, and Eliza Dushku. Seeing these badass ladies together evokes a ton of nostalgia for a 90s kid like myself. Even the love interest played by Jesse Bradford (Swimfan, Clockstoppers) feels perfect as the rebellious intellectual. Kirsten Dunst is all around adorable and exudes fun and pep for her squad. I wish Gabrielle Union was in the film more because she is amazing and ends up having a great rivalry with the Toro’s. And finally there is Eliza Dushku who as always is a total kickass lady and adds a perfect gate way for all of us who are not into the whole cheer thing. All of them are fantastic together and feel like pretty flushed out loveable characters.
The film also tries to have a decent social message. The more affluent, rich, white kids have received fame and recognition for routines they stole from the poor inner city school made up a much more diverse crew. White people stealing from people of color is more American than most people would care to believe and trying to recognize that in this film is important. However Torrences solution is to stop stealing from them and creating a new routine, only after they get called out in front of their whole school for stealing their routine. Few people on the Toro’s seem to have a problem with what they have done and as opposed to making changes seem to be fine taking the easy way out and continuing on with their problematic behavior. Although ultimately Torrence and Isis find common ground and work to find mutual respect, these white people have a lot of work to do in undoing their privilege. Ultimately it would make an interesting film to reboot, it has spun on many sequels, but could use a bit more of a woke lens.
Although it tries to make a statement there are plenty of other areas where the film has problems. Like many films and shows from this time, many aspects have not aged so well. With the male cheerleader they spend time either making gay jokes including derogatory language or they are trying to make them so straight that they are using their positon to grope the female cheerleaders. Sparky who affectionately lived in my mind as one of the funnier characters in the film is almost entirely problematic. Watching him degrade and harass the squad is not at all the fun scene I remember and ends up playing really cruel and perverted with a 2020 lens. Some of his best lines do not age particularly well although spirit fingers will forever be an iconic moment. Plus he does give some solid advice…“I understand you have underwear up your ass right now, but it beats the hell out of a shattered skull. Think about it.”
While Bring it On is still a fun movie that feels like a perfect 2000 time capsule it might hold up more for the nostalgia factor. I have no idea how someone seeing this for the first time would react, especially as an adult. But for me it is fun to celebrate the anniversary of this cult favorite and let it transport me back to a time of jelly sandals and body glitter.
The Neon Banshee 