2000, PG-13, 98 minutes

Given that the topic of cheerleading can only be taken so far as the centerpiece of a movie, my expectations for Bring It On weren't exactly through the roof. However, while the sport may not have the potential to develop suspense or tension like football or baseball, director Peyton Reed and screenwriter Jessica Bendinger still managed to slap together a decent movie-going experience.

Although some people find teenage girls displaying themselves in short skirts to be a degrading activity, the only way anyone can possibly enjoy this movie is to take it somewhat seriously. One person who takes cheerleading seriously is Torrance (Kirsten Dunst), a high school senior who has finally been elected squad captain after years of hard work. Considering her squad has won the national championships five years in a row, all she needs to do is more of the same and chances are they'll be on their way to another title. Of course, when out-of-town newcomer Missy (Eliza Dushku) joins the group, she brings with her some very bad news: their former captain was stealing cheers from a lower-class Compton high school. With little time to spare, Torrance must reorganize her team and start from scratch.

What saves Bring It On from becoming a bad film is that it maintains a balance between parody and serious cheerleading. Even more important is that we are shown two very different characters, with very different attitudes. Dunst's character is perky and enthusiastic, which will please true fans of the sport, while Eliza Dushku's character is cynical and initially too embarrassed to participate, which provides a source of attachment for a lot of male moviegoers such as myself. Some of the comedy is cliché and stereotypical, but there are also parts of this film that are surprisingly original. You know when you watch some teen flick and you can predict just about every source of conflict from a mile away? Well, Bring It On doesn't do this. For instance, part way through the film we see the potential for an awkward relationship, but instead of following the same old patterns and giving us what we expect, they throw us a curve and the conflict never arises.

The cast for Bring It On is both a strong point and a weak point. In fact, the range of acting between good and bad is a truly bizarre sight to witness. Kirsten Dunst was appropriately cast as the nothing but smiles cheerleader and Eliza Dushku (who some may remember as Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter in True Lies) turns in a solid performance as the cynical L.A. girl who discovers a new side of herself. Jesse Bradford is decent as the love interest, but the rest of the cast is laughably bad. Particularly horrible are the actresses who play the Compton cheerleaders, aside from Gabrielle Union, who is actually good compared to the people surrounding her.

Bring It On is difficult to review because overall it's a fairly well done film, but cheerleading can only be so exciting. It embraces a lot of gay and black stereotypes and at the same time brakes the mold, and in the same divided way it showcases both good performances and horrible acting. If you're at all interested in competition cheerleading or if you enjoy looking at cheerleaders, then I recommend Bring It On. It may not be Shakespeare but it isn't half bad for a little light-hearted comedy.