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Bring It On is a lighthearted comedy about a high school cheerleading squad called the Rancho Carne Toros and their rivals the East Compton Clovers. I expected a typical teen movie, but I was surprised by its originality. The movie was released in 2000 and produced by Marc Abraham. Its director is rookie Peyton Reed and the screenwriter, first timer Jessica Bendinger. The focus throughout the movie is competitive cheerleading. It is filled humor, but it still shows the more serious aspects of cheerleading. The story begins in San Diego, California, at the start of a new school year for Rancho Carne High School students. The main character, Torrance Shipman, played by Kirsten Dunst is headed to school in hopes of becoming the new captain on her cheer squad. She takes cheerleading very seriously, as she says, “I am cheerleading! It’s my life.” The former captain, “Big Red” has graduated, so it is time for a replacement. When the votes are tallied Torrance gets her wish of being elected captain and is ready to start practicing for the nationals. Her squad, the Rancho Carne Toros, have won the national championships five years in a row and Torrance is not about to break their winning streak. On their first day of practice Torrance has her squad attempt a difficult move, which ends in disaster. One of her teammates falls and breaks her leg in three different places. When Torrance gets home she tries to call her boyfriend, who was a member of the cheer squad, but just went off to college. She cannot get a hold of him and is very upset. Finding a replacement is going to be really hard and Torrance knows it. The following day during one of Torrance’s classes a new guy walks in and catches her eye. He ends up sitting next to her and introduces himself as Cliff Pantone (Jesse Bradford). He and Torrance hit it off with some flirty conversation. After school that day the cheer squad holds an open audition. Courtney and Whitney, the snobs of the squad, think that Whitney’s little sister Jaime should be chosen. All of the candidates turn out to be horrible, including Jaime and Torrance is really frustrated. Then another candidate, Missy, played by Eliza Dushku, walks into the gym. The squad members all give her a hard time because she is dressed in black, “biker” looking clothes, has a chain hanging from her pants, and she happens to be a new student. Courtney rudely asks, “Where did you park your Harley?” They test her gymnast abilities which turn out to be extremely good. Then they have her do a cheer, she makes up her own and says that their school has no gymnastics team and trying out for cheer is a last resort.
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