Movie Title: Drumline
Official Website (it might still work): Drumline
Rating (out of 10): 10
Reviewed By: Robin McFetridge
Buy the: Video/DVD | Soundtrack
The Review:

Well if you like those cheerleading competition movies like Bring it On, then you will really enjoy Drumline, directed by Charles Stone III. Well that is unless you only like those cheerleading movies because you are hoping for a glimpse of those tiny panties worn under the skirts, you see the band doesn't wear skimpy outfits, but they do wear those silly hats. The

basic plot is a freshman drummer named Devon (Nick Cannon, MIB II) and his over inflated ego get a full scholarship to attend Georgia A&T, with a once hugely successful band program that has been struggling over the years since the new band director Dr. James Lee (Orlando Jones, The Time Machine) is old school while the other school bands are all about the shaking your booty in the stands.  So in a nutshell old school meets new school and gets schooled.

This picture opens with Devon's high school graduation. He gives his mom flowers and bails to run an errand. He goes to rub his dad's nose in the fact that he made it without his help and he is going somewhere with his music unlike the deadbeat dad. Once at school he discovers the marching band is more like boot camp and show boating his skills is not looked upon favorably. Devon also picks up on upper classmate hottie Layla (Zoe Saldana, Crossroads), a dancer with the band. From the get go Devon and line leader Sean (Leonard Roberts, He Got Game) butt heads and tempers. Sean and Devon go so far out of the way to make the other look bad they each end up looking like a jackass. The turning point is discovering how much music means to them. Just like in those cheerleading movies, you have all this conflict working up to the final competition and a year’s worth of bragging rights. This might not be an original story line, but the marching band portion of it is fresh. The competition is so intense and the choreography so incredible it wouldn't even matter if a story was going on. Also appearing in this film were GQ, Jason Weaver, Earl Poitier (Remember the Titans), and Angela Gibbs among many other actors. There were 10 times more band members than football players. Oh and football is second to band at these southern schools.  Drumline is entertaining and fun. You get a little something something for everyone. So I give this movie 10 couches.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:47:57 AM

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