'Bring It On': Hip-Hip Cliche By Rita Kempley Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, August 25, 2000

Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union face off in "Bring It On." (Universal)

That's the intent behind "Bring It On," a spoofy paean to cheerfolk that has more bounce per flounce than most tales about teen queens, football heroes and pining outsiders. Though it shares a biting undertone with last year's high school satire "Election," the movie takes a sunnier, more affectionate look at those most likely to succeed.

The movie gets off to a saucy start when a squad, captained by the effervescent Torrance (Kirsten Dunst), launches into a haughty chant that confirms our worst opinions: "I'm sexy. I'm cute. I'm popular to boot. I'm bitching. Great hair. The boys all like to stare. I'm pretty. I'm cool. I dominate this school," they chime.

Set in suburban San Diego's Rancho Carne High School (that's Meat Ranch High School in espanol), the story mines the ruthlessly catty, athletically demanding world of competitive cheerleading. The Toro squad is on its way to a sixth consecutive national championship when disaster strikes: The cheerleaders discover that all of their innovative hip-hop routines were borrowed from the Clovers, a squad from Los Angeles' East Compton High.

With only three weeks left before the nationals, Torrance insists that the Toros come up with new routines. Though met with resistance, she soon lets potential mutineers know who's running the show. "This is not a democracy, it's a cheerocracy," she snaps. (Not that Dunst, while adorable, quite convinces the audience.)

When inspiration fails her, Torrance hires a fascistic choreographer (Ian Roberts) to develop and teach the Toros a new routine. The decision is disastrous for the squad, but the movie profits from Roberts's fleeting appearance. The actor also benefits from frosh writer Jessica Bendinger's playful cynicism, which gives birth to such delicious lines as "Cheerleaders are just dancers gone retarded."

Bendinger's script may not be deep, but at least it isn't another story about an outsider looking to get in. Everybody's already in. The Clovers are briefly down (they don't have enough money to travel to the competition), but they are never going to be out if their determined head cheerleader (peppery Gabrielle Union) has her way.

While the outcome is not wholly predictable, it's not going to surprise anybody with a good eye for daring gymnastics, snazzy choreography and practiced pizazz. It almost makes a gal want to stand up and cheer.

Nah.