Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
McCaleb Burnett (left), Tyrese Gibson (center), James Franco (right) and Plebes in a scene from the movie 'Annapolis'. - CONTRIBUTED
ANNAPOLIS IS a lightweight dramatic flick. Directed by Justin Lin and written by David Collard, it initially seems to have received its main inspiration from advertisements for the American navy. It also has a little sideline tag for 'the few and the proud', the Marines.
Annapolis shares equal time as a boxing movie, as the story surrounds the boxing championships at the naval academy. Unfortunately, its success as a boxing flick is equally as unimpressive as what it offers up about training in the navy
Annapolis highlights that there is much more to cooking up a great movie than having the right kind of ingredients. A great dish also depends on having the right ingredients in the right proportion and mixing them in at the right time and with the right technique.
So, Annapolis is sadly lacking in flavour and it makes for a very light meal even though it has all the requisite ingredients. James Franco (Spider Man, Freaks and Geeks) takes on the role of the handsome young hero, Jake Huard, who is fighting against his background of poverty and trying to prove himself despite the odds.
UNIMPRESSIVE
Tyrese Gibson tackles the role of the villain as Lt. Cole, who is intent on showing Jake that he does not have what it takes to become an officer in the navy. A little romance is thrown in with Jordana Brewster who plays Jakes superior and romantic interest. A little buddy element is also brought in through Vicellous Reon Shannon, who plays Twins.
One can see pieces of Top Gun, An Officer and A Gentleman and even Full Metal Jacket glaring through. Yet, though Annapolis borrows heavily from better movies in the navy/army/marines/air training facilities arena, it is hardly comparable with the best of them.
The movie mostly feels like the low-cost version of An Officer and a Gentleman. Alas, James Franco cannot yet walk in Richard Gere's shoes, especially when they are attempting to get him to walk in Tom Cruise's at the same time. Even so, most of the movie's failure cannot be laid at Franco's feet. It is simply unimpressively put together.
There are a few moments in the flick when a little humour comes through but what Annapolis lacks is emotional strength. It would have been able to pass muster if it had at least been able to rev up adrenaline, but it fails to do that as well.
TOO CLICHÉD
Impressively, Gibson is not bad. It seems that he has been brushing up on his skills and since he has retired the incessant need to parade his looks, he has been able to do better.
Movies like Top Gun, Full Metal Jacket and An Officer and a Gentleman are successful because they explore the best and worst about what we like about the armed forces. Even when we abhor the travesty of what is currently taking place in Iraq, it is easy to buy into the romantic figure that the soldier and his comrades in arms have always represented: integrity, honesty, bravery, etc. Exploring the cruelty involved in the armed forces also makes for great fare.
Annapolis seems to realise none of this and, as such, it cannot make the grade. It is too light, too unemotional, too clichéd.
