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"STOMP THE YARD" (2007) (Columbus Short, Meagan Good) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Mild Extreme Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None *None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Heavy Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: Following his brother's death, a young man finds himself while attending a university dominated by its fraternities and their involvement in competitive stepping. PLOT: DJ (COLUMBUS SHORT) is a self-centered and cocky member of an amateur dance team in Los Angeles. When competition with a rival team gets heated and ends up out on the streets in a fight, DJ's brother is killed. As a result, DJ ends up moving across the country to Atlanta to live with his aunt Jackie (VALARIE PETTIFORD) and uncle Nate (HARRY LENNIX). The latter runs a landscaping company and has arranged for DJ to be enrolled in a work-study program with nearby Truth University. There, DJ tries to keep a low profile -- unlike his boisterous roommate Rich (NE-YO) -- amidst the pomp and pageantry of the school's main two fraternities, Mu Gamma Xi, led by Zeke (LAZ ALONSO), and Theta Nu Theta, headed up by Sylvester (BRIAN WHITE). Both are heavily involved in the world and competitiveness of stepping, an African-American dance involving team members performing synchronized dance steps and other movements. When they learn that DJ can hold his own and then some on the dance floor, both frats want him to pledge, but he doesn't want to. However, he is interested in pretty coed April (MEAGAN GOOD), initially unaware that she's the girlfriend to Zeke's Mu Gamma lieutenant, Grant (DARRIN HENSON). As he continues to pursue her, he most not only put up with Grant not being pleased, but also pledging Theta Nu, as well as Dr. Palmer (ALLAN LOUIS), the school's provost and April's father who isn't pleased to learn she's become interested in someone other than Grant. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It's a good bet some will, especially if they're into stepping and/or are fans of someone in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For a scene of violence, some sexual material and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: COLUMBUS SHORT plays a talented, but self-centered young man whose life is turned upside down when his brother is murdered (during an incident that led to his arrest for aggravated assault) and he's sent off to live with his relatives in Atlanta and attend college there. He tries to get April to be his girl despite her dating Grant, and eventually has a change of heart and tries to be more open to others. He uses some profanity. MEAGAN GOOD plays a student and tutor at the school who eventually falls for him after seeing what a jerk her boyfriend is. NE-YO plays DJ's more boisterous roommate. DARRIN HENSON plays April's law-student boyfriend who turns out to be as much of a jerk toward her as he is to DJ (with whom he becomes competitive). BRIAN WHITE plays the leader of the always second place frat who must contend with DJ's talent and ego, as well as the rival fraternity. LAZ ALONSO plays Grant's superior at their fraternity who'd like to have DJ pledge with them. VALARIE PETTIFORD plays DJ's aunt who sets April's father straight. HARRY LENNIX plays DJ's tough uncle who gets him into the university on a work-study program where he works for Nate's landscaping business. He uses some profanity. ALLAN LOUIS plays April's father, the university provost who tries to coerce her into dating the guy he wants and thinks is right for her, rather than what she wants. He uses some profanity and tries to blackmail DJ into agreeing to stop seeing her. 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 been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "s" word and a genital-based slang term, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue and material (including a guy boastfully showing his roll of condoms) is present, and off-screen sex is hinted at, but never confirmed. The camera focuses on clothed (sometimes scantily clad) female body parts and lots of cleavage is present, while some buff shirtless guys are also seen. Violence includes a fight where one person pummels another with a brick followed by one person fatally shooting another (with mildly bloody results). That leads to some tense family material (a brother grieving over his dead sibling), while a college student doesn't like her dad interfering in her love life. Other bad attitudes are present. Some of the dancing and other behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while some drinking also occurs. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there are some strobe effects at the end of the film during a dance competition. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, a great deal of camera movement occurs throughout the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Miscellaneous people drink in a club. DJ and April have beer and shots in a pool hall/bar where others also drink. Grant and April have champagne at dinner, where other patrons appear to have wine. One student announces, "Pizza and beer on me." Miscellaneous people have beer. BLOOD/GORE DJ's dead brother has a little blood from his mouth after being fatally shot, while a few others who were in fights are a tiny bit bloody during the incident. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE DJ is self-centered and egotistical for much of the film, including having a bad attitude toward most everyone except for April. A young man defaces a poster with spray paint by changing the word "yours" to "ours." There's a fight at night between DJ's dance crew and their rivals, resulting in the murder of DJ's brother. The rival frat members don't get along with each other. The camera focuses on a female student's clothed butt (showing where Rich and another guy are looking), with one stating, "Been there, done that." Grant has a bad attitude toward DJ and treats April (his girlfriend) poorly. Sylvester initially has a bad attitude toward DJ, while DJ doesn't act friendly toward him, and repeatedly tries to get April to like him despite knowing she's dating Grant. Seeing Grant dancing suggestively right behind and against a bent-over young woman (both are clothed), a guy states he hopes Grant has a condom on. April is then upset about that, but Grant says it was no big deal. When asked if he wants to pledge one of the fraternities, DJ sarcastically replies, "P*ssies step." April and DJ passionately kiss (a bad attitude for her since she's cheating on Grant), but she then stops them. We see that a member of the rival frat has been spying on DJ and his dance moves, taping them to show to Grant so that he'll know what to expect in their competition. The rival frat digs up DJ's past police report, all to have him thrown out of the school (for not admitting that he has a police record -- for a previous fight in which he was charged with aggravated assault). April's dad (the college provost) tells DJ he'll reinstate him at the school, but only if he breaks off his relationship with April (DJ refuses). He then condescendingly tells DJ that he (DJ) will end up just like his uncle, cutting grass for a living. FRIGHTENING SCENES There's a fight at night between DJ's dance crew and their rivals, as various people punch or otherwise strike others, including DJ pummeling one guy with a brick. A rival then pulls out a pistol and shoots DJ's brother dead (all of this filmed with a constantly moving camera, so not everything is seen in static detail). One student holds a baby python (the school's mascot) -- those afraid of snakes might not like the sudden sight. GUNS/WEAPONS Handgun: Used to murder someone. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You little sh*t," "P*ssies step," "Fools," "What the hell /are you doing/is going on/are they doing/is this nigger doing/was that?" "Niggers" (said by black people), "About to double-up on their asses," "No way in hell," "Get your black ungrateful ass in the G*ddamn truck," "Oh damn," "Dawg," "Throw their asses to the wolves," "You're about to get your ass whooped," "Bitch" (man), "Idiot," "Bootlickers," "Straight up, that dude is whack," "Home-boy," "Just chill," "Murdered your asses," "You're fine but you're not all that," "Payback's a bitch," "Why don't you and Grant hook up and leave me the hell out of it?" "We still suck," "Lame ass," "Damn good cook," "Either way I was screwed from the get-go," "How the hell can they do that?" "We are screwed," "It's my ass getting kicked to the curb," "Damn sure" and "One word, bitches." All of the various dance moves and such may be enticing for some kids to imitate. Various characters have various types of tattoos. A woman in a dance competition has half of her face painted black. April occasionally wears midriff-revealing tops, as do other women. Some dancers appear to give "the finger" to others during a dance-off. One dancer has what looks like a Mohawk type haircut. A young man defaces a poster with spray paint by changing the word "yours" to "ours." Some frat guys hold their clothed crotches as they enter the dance area. One dancer gives "the finger" to others. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None, but some songs contained lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable material. PROFANITY At least 1 "s" word, 3 slang terms for sex ("banging" and "hook up"), 1 using female genitals ("p*ssies"), 9 asses (1 used with "hole"), 9 hells, 7 damns and 1 use of "G-damn." SEX/NUDITY April shows varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot) in various outfits, while other women do the same. We see a shirtless male dancer. One young woman wiggles her clothed butt during a dance performance, while the camera focuses on another young woman's clothed butt in some small and tight shorts. Representing DJ's point of view, we see a close-up of April's clothed butt, as well as of her lips as she drinks from a water fountain. Rich announces to DJ that various things in their dorm room are off-limits, including his condoms. He then holds up a "roll" of them and states that they're "Magnums...of course." The camera focuses on a female student's clothed butt (showing where Rich and another guy are looking), with one stating, "Been there, done that." We see some miscellaneous women in the equivalent of bikini tops at a club. Seeing Grant dancing suggestively right behind and against a bent-over young woman (both are clothed), a guy states he hopes Grant has a condom on. April is then upset about that, but Grant says it was no big deal. We see DJ shirtless while on a riding lawn mower, while slow motion footage shows April jogging in shorts and a midriff-revealing top. April and DJ passionately kiss (a bad attitude for her since she's cheating on Grant), but she then stops them. April does a sexy sort of dance in unison with some other young women, while wearing a midriff-revealing top. Upset at her dad for not being happy she's seeing DJ rather than Grant, April tells him, "Why don't you and Grant hook up and leave me the hell out of it?" After breaking up with Grant, April arrives at DJ's dorm room, tells him what happened, and then says she thinks she wants to come in. He lets her, the door closes, and we don't know what else, if anything, happens between them. We see some of the frat guys shirtless while jogging. We see DJ and April studying together on a bed, he being shirtless and she being in boxers and a top (nothing sexual is occurring). Some frat guys hold their clothed crotches as they enter the dance area. SMOKING A miscellaneous person has a cigar. TENSE FAMILY SCENES DJ must deal with seeing his brother murdered, holding his body, and then the related emotional aftermath (we also see a few flashback moments showing the brother when he's alive -- representing DJ's memory of him - as well as DJ having his dead brother's dance gloves). Upset at her dad for not being happy she's seeing DJ rather than Grant, April tells him, "Why don't you and Grant hook up and leave me the hell out of it?" April states that her mom died 5 years ago. April is upset with her dad when she overhears him stating what's right and best for her. She says that one day she'll be able to forgive him for that, but can't imagine when that will be. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Stepping. Fraternities. DJ becoming a better person by becoming involved in an organized activity at school. Losing a family member to violence. DJ stating he had a public defender who did him no good in his previous criminal trial. April is upset with her dad when she overhears him stating what's right and best for her. She says that one day she'll be able to forgive him for that, but can't imagine when that will be. VIOLENCE There's some pushing among competing dancers where others have to separate them. Later, one is thrown down to the dance floor, but keeps on performing rather than trying to fight back. There's a fight at night between DJ's dance crew and their rivals, as various people punch or otherwise strike others, including DJ pummeling one guy with a brick. A rival then pulls out a pistol and shoots DJ's brother dead (all of this filmed with a constantly moving camera, so not everything is seen in static detail). Grant pushes DJ back and the two have to be separated. Reviewed January 4, 2007 / Posted January 12, 2007

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