Set in 1978 and harkening back to that simpler time, "Roll Bounce" is a film that recalls several movies from that era, including "Xanadu," "Roller Boogie," and, most importantly for me, "Thank God it's Friday." The set-up is the standard "underdog" story that has permeated teenage sports films as well as those that deal with dancing, ice skating, roller skating and the like for years now.

The difference here is that this is a primarily African- American teenager's story. This is the only thing new here. The focus is primarily on X as played by Bow Wow (nee Little) a young teen whose mother has recently died (yawn) and whose father is loving but distant. There's been great hoopla about the relationship between an African America father and son in this film and I can tell you that it is exactly that: Hoopla. There's not only nothing new here, there's nothing that isn't standard and typical. The "climactic" scene with this storyline, where Bow Wow takes a baseball bat to his father's car while the father apologizes profusely is not only absurd but also has the distinction of having absolutely nothing prior to this scene in the film which helps to build toward it. This scene comes out of nowhere and the character of X is completely unjustified (via the screenplay anyway) in his actions. His father should smack his ass. Instead he apologizes. What? No wonder African-American familial relationships are so fucked up if this is what is being pointed to as an example of rightness.

The film has little fun with its retro setting, opting for supposed verisimilitude instead. The numerous big butts on black girls being exposed to the teenage boys over and over is a perfect example of how this film rings false. Did anyone celebrate big butts on women prior to Sir Mixx-a-Lot's song in the 80's? I don't think so. (Then again, my knowledge of recent African-American culture is about nil, so what do I know).

Anyway, the real problem here, like all problems in films of this type, is that the professional skaters in the tertiary cast roll circles around the professional actors playing skaters in the film. The idea that X and his little band of friends could compete on the same level as some of the other skate teams in the climax of the film is so laughable that even a novice like myself could see how absurd it really looked.

The young cast here is cute and fairly talented. Brandon T. Jackson as Junior is a particular standout. But Chi McBride (who should have insisted on better editing and several rewrites) can do nothing with his character that worked. And Mike Epps is wasted in a sideline comedic role that has absolutely nothing to do with the story (a homage to those aforementioned 70's films). And please don't get me started on Nick Cannon. His performance of a minor character here stinks up this film as much as his work does in his starring roles.

"Roll Bounce" could have been something really important, warm and wonderful. Instead it skates on cliche and the charms of its young cast.

Notes:

Also with Khleo Thomas, Charles Murphy, Wayne Brady, and Tim Kazurinsky.

Score by Stanley Clarke. Lots of period pop music is used with the majority of "white" disco seeming to come from RSO label songs (Player, Samantha Sang).

10% of the film's opening weekend grosses were donated to Hurricane Katrina victims.

Filmed in and around Chicago.

Viewed in Austin in October 2005.

Report Card

Script: C-

Acting: A-

Cinematography\Lighting: B+

Special Effects\Make Up: B+

Music: A-

Final Grade: C