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"ANNAPOLIS" (2006) (James Franco, Tyrese Gibson) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Mild Heavy Mild Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Mild None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Moderate Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: A shipyard steelworker tries to overcome the odds and obstacles as he enrolls at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. PLOT: Having grown up in Annapolis, MD, and working at the local shipyard across the way, Jake Huard (JAMES FRANCO) has always dreamed of attending the U.S. Naval Academy, but his father (BRIAN GOODMAN) doesn't support him and his grades aren't promising. Accordingly, he hangs out with his buddies, including A.J. (JIM PARRACK), at the local bar, hoping things might some day change. That chance comes after winning a local boxing bout when Jake meets Navy recruiter Lt. Cmdr. Burton (DONNIE WAHLBERG) who informs him that his repeated requests to get a recommendation from his congressman have paid off. Joining fellow plebes Nance (VICELLOUS SHANNON), Loo (ROGER FAN) and Estrada (WILMER CALDERON), Jake is thrust into the world of the Academy that includes hazing by upperclassman Whitaker (McCALEB BURNETT) and hard physical training under Midshipman Lt. Cole (TYRESE GIBSON) who's previously served in the Marines. Then there's upperclassman Ali (JORDANA BREWSTER) who Jake earlier met at his local hangout, unaware that she'd soon become his superior officer. As Estrada wants to go out with the ladies, Loo obsessively follows orders and the overweight Nance tries to get in shape and pass physical training while still sneaking junk food, Jake strives to enter the prestigious Brigades boxing tournament run by coach McNally (CHI McBRIDE). Yet, his constant clashes with Cole get in his way. With their first year progressing, the various plebes try to survive their training and prove their worth, including Jake who wants to win over Ali and compete in the boxing tournament, all while overcoming the odds and various obstacles in his way. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of someone in the cast or are interested in the Navy or Naval Academy, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For some violence, sexual content and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JAMES FRANCO plays a shipyard worker who enrolls at the Naval Academy in hopes of being an officer. Stubborn and not exactly disciplined, he faces the wrath of his superior officers, all while questioning whether he's cut out for this life. He also pursues Ali (his superior) and drinks with his buddies. TYRESE GIBSON plays a Marine veteran who's serving as the plebes' drill sergeant of sorts and puts them through the paces to try to weed out those who can't make it from those with officer potential. He particularly focuses on Jake and pushes him to the limit. JORDANA BREWSTER plays an upperclassman who breaks the rules by fraternizing with Jake despite being his superior. She also assists him in his boxing training. DONNIE WAHLBERG plays a recruiter at the Academy who agrees to allow Jake to attend and then tries to get the plebe to accept his help, including with boxing training. VICELLOUS SHANNON plays Jake's overweight roommate and fellow plebe who must deal with his weight issue and the harassment of Whitaker. ROGER FAN plays another roommate whose by-the-books ways clashes with Jake and Estrada. WILMER CALDERON plays another plebe who must put up with racist hazing as well as his own undisciplined behavior. CHI McBRIDE plays the Academy boxing coach who won't let Jake compete in the tournament until he's proven his worth. JIM PARRACK plays Jake's drinking buddy and former shipyard coworker. McCALEB BURNETT plays one of the plebes' superior officers who constantly harasses and hazes those under him. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's rated PG-13. Profanity consists of an incomplete "f" word and 5 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some non-explicit, but sexually related dialogue is present, there's a brief, sensual moment between a man and woman, and members of both sexes are briefly seen in skimpy attire (the woman in a photo). Violence consists of various brutal boxing blows (with some bloody results), while a bit of other physical contact is also present. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while tense family material involves a partially estranged father/son duo. A character tries to commit suicide (off camera by jumping from his window -- the act is not seen), while various characters drink (beer and shots) in several scenes. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's camera movement (of varying amounts) in various scenes, especially the boxing match ones. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see a sign for a popular brand of beer. A.J. carries several beers, while drinking one. A.J. talks about getting "sh*t-faced" and we then see him, Jake and their friends drinking beer and then shots. Jake and his friends have beer and then shots in their local hangout. Jake's father hands him a beer from the fridge and has one for himself. Jake has a beer in a bar where a few other people drink. BLOOD/GORE Jake has various bruises on his face following a boxing match with Cole. A boxer has a little blood on his face during a bout. Another boxer has a little blood from his nose during a bout. We see what looks like a drop of blood hit the boxing ring canvas, while both Jake and Cole have blood on their face during their bout. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Jake's father is not supportive of his son's dream of attending the Naval Academy. Doing some hazing, Whitaker says Estrada smells and wonders if he's been taking "Puerto Rican" showers. He then orders that he take showers around the clock. Whitaker refers to Nance as "butterball," "fat ass" and "twins" (for being large enough to carry them). Ali jokingly tells Jake (about his boxing), "You hook like a girl." Whitaker, in his hazing mode or just in general, has a bad attitude toward Jake. Estrada lies to Whitaker about having showered around the clock, prompting Loo to think he has to turn in Estrada for that. That then prompts Estrada to hit Loo. Jake spars with the much larger Cole and gets pummeled in the ring with various brutal blows. When the match is called off and Cole is leaving the ring, Jake throws a sucker punch that hits Cole. Jake learns that others, including his father, bet on how long he'd last at the Academy (this causes him to confront and be mad at his father -- asking "What kind of father wants his son to fail?"). It's implied that Jake's mother is dead, with him saying that he might have succeeded if she was the one still around rather than his father. Nance shows that he has hidden snack food in his belongings (that he gives to Jake to help him make Cole's boxing weight class). Believing Cole is responsible for another plebe trying to kill himself, Jake tackles him to the ground (thus attacking a superior officer). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling to some viewers. We see Jake and a female plebe in a training exercise where a large chamber filling with water and they have to hammer large pegs into holes to stop the flow of water. *We hear that a plebe jumped out his window (from having failed his final physical test). We don't see the act, but see people rush up to him on the ground (he's unconscious but alive and we later see him in a hospital bed). GUNS/WEAPONS The plebes hold rifles over their heads during training. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Getting sh*t-faced," "Holy sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Just for sh*ts and giggles," "Racist pr*ck," "Finish off this little pr*ck," an incomplete "You mother..." "Get your ass kicked," "Biggest pain in the ass he ever met," "What the hell /is it that you do want/you talking about?" "C'mon you butterball," "You're pathetic," "Twins" (a hazing nickname for Nance being fat enough that he could be carrying twins), "Fat ass," "Chick," "Shut your hole," "Smartest G*ddman thing I ever heard," "Goes to hell," "Hell no," "Eat me, poster boy," "Weak ass," "Pissed off," "You're my Mississippi," "Sure as hell," "I've seen better footwork at Payless," "Payback's a bitch" and "Freezing my ass off." The film could inspire some kids to take up or participate in boxing. Various characters in the film (including Cole and Burton) have various styles and numbers of tattoos. Doing some hazing, Whitaker says Estrada smells and wonders if he's been taking "Puerto Rican" showers. He then orders that he take showers around the clock. Whitaker refers to Nance as "butterball," "fat ass" and "twins" (for being large enough to carry them). We see Burton repeatedly punching Jake in the gut as part of his training. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 incomplete "f" word (used with "mother"), 5 "s" words, 2 slang terms using male genitals ("pr*ck"), 1 using female ones ("p*ssy"), 11 hells, 6 asses, 2 craps, 1 damn, 4 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Jesus" and "My God." SEX/NUDITY Some buxom young women in a bar show cleavage and the guys ogle them. A.J. points out Ali to Jake, saying that he and his friends chipped in to get her for him. He adds that she's an escort, but when Jake seems reluctant to approach her, A.J. jokes that she's not going to bite as that might cost too much. When Jake finally talks to her and realizes she's not a hooker, he says, "You're not a prostitute." She then goes along with the practical joke, saying that she really is and that she's late for her next appointment. She then playfully asks if he's trying to lose his virginity. Estrada has a small photo of a lingerie model (or something similar) that he keeps in the underside of his cap (he later replaces that with a similar photo of some "chick" he met (we see him in his t-shirt and briefs when he makes the switch). When Jake hears Nance on the computer at night, he asks if he's looking at porn (he isn't). When Estrada comes in, he asks if they're looking at porn (and they still aren't). Estrada wants to know why they can't "hook up" with girls (as plebes). One of his fellow plebes tells Jake that help is like sex in that you take it whenever and wherever you can get it. Jake tells his friends that some at the Academy were kicked out for "hooking up" with women. Ali enters the bar where she and Jake first met and (continuing the joke from above) states that she's there looking for Johns (clients). We see shirtless male boxers in and out of the ring. After Ali playfully punches Jake to the boxing ring canvas, she nearly kisses him, but then stops (in a somewhat sensual moment). Jake and Ali briefly kiss at the end. SMOKING A miscellaneous character is briefly seen smoking while watching a boxing match. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jake's father is not supportive of his son's dream of attending the Naval Academy. Jake learns that others, including his father, bet on how long he'd last at the Academy (this causes him to confront and be mad at his father -- asking "What kind of father wants his son to fail?"). It's implied that Jake's mother is dead, with him saying that he might have succeeded if she was the one still around rather than his father. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The Navy and Naval Academy. Whether Ali would or could get away with fraternizing with Jake. Cole tells Jake that the worst kind of officer is one who guesses (rather than making informed decisions). Jake learns that others, including his father, bet on how long he'd last at the Academy (this causes him to confront and be mad at his father -- asking "What kind of father wants his son to fail?"). It's implied that Jake's mother is dead, with him saying that he might have succeeded if she was the one still around rather than his father. After Ali comments on the difficulties of being a woman at the Academy, Jake replies that it's no fun being underestimated (referring to how others have treated him). *We hear that a plebe jumped out his window (from having failed his final physical test). We don't see the act, but see people rush up to him on the ground (he's unconscious but alive and we later see him in a hospital bed). *Whether such hazing (racial and body size related) would occur at the Naval Academy. VIOLENCE We see boxing violence (with hard/severe blows) in a match between Jake and another boxer. We briefly see A.J. in a shoving confrontation with some other guys in a bar (until Jake separates them). Estrada lies to Whitaker about having showered around the clock, prompting Loo to think he has to turn in Estrada for that. That then prompts Estrada to hit Loo. Jake spars with the much larger Cole and gets pummeled in the ring with various brutal blows. When the match is called off and Cole is leaving the ring, Jake throws a sucker punch that hits Cole. Jake spars with Burton with some hard blows delivered by both. Jake boxes Loo and knocks him out after Loo taunts Jake in the ring. Ali playfully punches Jake to the boxing ring canvas (and then nearly kisses him there). We see Burton repeatedly punching Jake in the gut as part of his training. Believing Cole is responsible for another plebe trying to kill himself, Jake tackles him to the ground (thus attacking a superior officer). Jake and Cole deliver a number of brutal punches to each other during a boxing match. Reviewed January 23, 2006 / Posted January 27, 2006

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