SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: YOU GOT SERVED

"YOU GOT SERVED"
(2004) (Omari Grandberry, Marques Houston) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
*None	Minor	Heavy	Mild	Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Minor	Mild	Mild

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Mild	Minor	Mild	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: Two young men must deal with their differences while competing for fame and fortune in group dance contests.

PLOT:

David (OMARI GRANDBERRY) and Elgin (MARQUES HOUSTON) are best friends who lead a small group of people in various street dance contests overseen by local businessman Mr. Rad (STEVE HARVEY). Their crew is the best on the street and thus they feel they can easily take on a challenge by Wade (CHRISTOPHER JONES) and his dance team where the winners will take home $5,000.

Yet, when one of their own switches sides and gives Wade all of their dance moves, David and Elgin suddenly find themselves the losers. To make matters worse, things have become tense between the two.

For starters, Elgin isn't pleased that his sister, Liyah (JENNIFER FREEMAN), likes David and vice-versa. Then there's the fact that David wasn't there to stop some thugs from beating up Elgin while he was delivering some valuable "goods" for local crime boss, Emerald (MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO).

Liyah's friend, Beautiful (MEAGAN GOOD), and various dance team members including Rico (JARRELL HOUSTON), Rashaan (DREUX FREDERIC) and Vick (DeMARIO THORNTON) are in disbelief over the sudden rift in the group. From that point on, the two former friends must decide whether to put their differences aside so that they can compete in a lucrative competition and steal the street dancing crown back from Wade and his crew.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're into street dancing or are fans of anyone in the cast, they just might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For thematic elements and sexual references.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: OMARI GRANDBERRY plays a young man who co-leads a street dancing crew through various contests for cash. He also serves as a courier for a local crime figure, likes Liyah, and must deal with the sudden rift between him and Elgin.
MARQUES HOUSTON plays his best friend and fellow street dancer who becomes angry with him over Liyah and not having his back in a bad situation.
JENNIFER FREEMAN plays Elgin's sister, a pre-med student who can't believe he's upset that she's interested in David.
JARRELL HOUSTON plays their friend and one of the dancers who serves as a mentor to a young boy in need.
CHRISTOPHER JONES plays a cocky competitor to David and Elgin who steals their dance moves to beat them in a contest. He briefly uses some profanity.
STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; MARQUES HOUSTON plays his best friend and fellow street dancer who becomes angry with him over Liyah and not having his back in a bad situation.
JENNIFER FREEMAN plays Elgin's sister, a pre-med student who can't believe he's upset that she's interested in David.
JARRELL HOUSTON plays their friend and one of the dancers who serves as a mentor to a young boy in need.
CHRISTOPHER JONES plays a cocky competitor to David and Elgin who steals their dance moves to beat them in a contest. He briefly uses some profanity.
STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; JENNIFER FREEMAN plays Elgin's sister, a pre-med student who can't believe he's upset that she's interested in David.
JARRELL HOUSTON plays their friend and one of the dancers who serves as a mentor to a young boy in need.
CHRISTOPHER JONES plays a cocky competitor to David and Elgin who steals their dance moves to beat them in a contest. He briefly uses some profanity.
STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; JARRELL HOUSTON plays their friend and one of the dancers who serves as a mentor to a young boy in need.
CHRISTOPHER JONES plays a cocky competitor to David and Elgin who steals their dance moves to beat them in a contest. He briefly uses some profanity.
STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; CHRISTOPHER JONES plays a cocky competitor to David and Elgin who steals their dance moves to beat them in a contest. He briefly uses some profanity.
STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; STEVE HARVEY plays the local businessman who oversees the street dancing battles and tries to keep peace between the crews. He uses some brief profanity.
MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.; MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a local crime boss who uses David and Elgin as couriers for his "goods," isn't happy when Elgin loses some of them, and smokes cigars in several scenes.

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:

Here's a quick look at the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "s" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some non-explicit, sexually related dialogue is present, some women are seen in revealing attire, while male and female dancers separately do some pelvic thrusting on the dance floor. Additional dance moves and other material may be enticing for some kids to imitate.

A person is badly beaten by robbers in an alley, other brief fighting occurs, we hear that a young boy was shot and killed, and some brief tussling is present. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, and it's possible the two main characters are delivering drugs when they work as couriers for a local crime figure. One character smokes cigars a few times and some brief, sibling-based, tense family material is present.

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, some of that occurs during a thunderstorm set in a training montage.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: None, but it's possible that David and Elgin are delivering drugs when they work part time as couriers for crime boss Emerald.

BLOOD/GORE: Elgin has a little blood on his face after some guys beat him up.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: An off-duty cop acts as security at an illegal betting activity.
The guys learn that one of their dancers turned sides and is now dancing with Wade (and has stolen their moves for him).
A bunch of men attack Elgin in a dark alley to steal what he's transporting for Emerald. In silhouette, we see them repeatedly punching and kicking him. We later see that this injured his leg.
In response to Liyah liking David, Elgin tells her, "Stop acting like a 'ho."
Elgin holds a grudge against David for a long time and won't accept him as his friend.
Emerald is some sort of crime boss.
Elgin orders Liyah to stay away from David. That later prompts her to tell him, "I hate you."
The competing dancers have bad attitudes toward their opponents.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be unsettling or tense to some viewers.

GUNS/WEAPONS: An off-duty cop shows the crowd that he's wearing a sidearm.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "This is bullsh*t," "She's da bomb," "Dawg," "Dang," "You're bugging me out," "My bad," "I'm ready to get busy," "Why are you tripping?" what sounded like "Niggas" (said by a young black kid), "Punk," "Knucklehead," "A little bad ass," "Suckers," "Hell no," "Fools," "Tonight, you suckers got served," "You got your ass whooped tonight," "Come the hell on," "Shut up," "Stop acting like a 'ho," "Give a damn," "Bugs out," "You lost your damn mind?" "Sit your ass down," "Freaked out," "That's a dame shame," "Tired ass" and "Tear this mother up."
All of the various dance moves (including some separate male and female pelvic thrusts), etc. may be enticing for some kids to want to imitate.
A person gives "the finger" during a dance contest and that occurs later in another one.
A guy grabs his own crotch in a defiant, nonsexual gesture toward another guy.
Liyah and her friend Beautiful wear midriff-revealing tops in several scenes.
David and Elgin work part time as couriers for crime boss Emerald (possibly drugs).
Rico has a tattoo, while a miscellaneous woman has several tattoos.
A guy says (in a "put down" fashion) that he was with his competitor's girl last night.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A minor bit of suspenseful music plays in one scene.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't understand or hear, thus offering the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable material.
A song had a repeated lyric about "bend over" and "show me what you shake it with" (or something like that). Another song has the phrases "hell yeah" and "whoop ass." Another has lines about a drug sale and getting high.

PROFANITY: At least 1 "s" word, 1 slang term for sex ("get busy"), 7 hells, 6 asses, 6 damns and 1 use each of "For God's sakes" and "Oh my God."

SEX/NUDITY: Some guys do some pelvic thrusting and some girls shake their clothed butts during a dance contest.
Liyah shows some cleavage.
A guy says (in a "put down" fashion) that he was with his competitor's girl last night.
Elgin's grandmother senses that something's wrong (he's there to ask her for money) and then bluntly asks him, "Are you having sex?"
David and Liyah do some brief, but passionate kissing.
In response to Liyah liking David, Elgin tells her, "Stop acting like a 'ho."
Some of the guys joke with David for "getting busy" with Liyah and then comment on him doing just that with several other women they name.
Some young women do some pelvic thrusting onto the floor during a dance.
The real Lil' Kim wears a small bikini top that barely contains her ample bosom (thus showing lots of cleavage and much of the side of her breast).
Some male dancers do some pelvic thrusting while dancing.

SMOKING: Emerald smokes cigars in several scenes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Elgin orders Liyah to stay away from David. That later prompts her to tell him, "I hate you."

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Such dancing and dance contests (with betting involved).
Friendships and what to do when they're strained.
Elgin being mad about David and Liyah for liking each other.
The guys get news that a boy was shot. They then arrive at the hospital where they learn he died from his injuries.

VIOLENCE: One dancer pushes another and this occurs again. Moments later, many of the dancers get into a scuffle with more pushing and shoving.
A bunch of men attack Elgin in a dark alley to steal what he's transporting for Emerald. In silhouette, we see them repeatedly punching and kicking him. We later see that this injured his leg.
Elgin and David push each other.
Elgin grabs Liyah up from a booth and pushes her, prompting David to rush up and punch Elgin in the face, flooring him.
One of Emerald's goons grabs Elgin and pushes him inside a truck. Emerald is there and is mad at Elgin. He grabs Elgin by the back of the neck and then squeezes Elgin's injured leg, causing him pain.
The guys get news that a boy was shot (we don't see the boy or incident). They then arrive at the hospital where they learn he died from his injuries.
Rico punches a wall in anger when he gets bad news.
There's some brief pushing between competitors.

Reviewed January 28, 2004 / Posted January 30, 2004

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