Customer Reviews

Stompin'

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wish I didn't read the review of the person who wrote "This was a good DVD". This DVD was not worh the asking price. If you can get it used for less than $5 it would be an okay buy. The storyline was good. You had two brothers, one was a star athletic and the other was doing his own thing; battling for their father's attention and the same girl. But the acting, directing and producing is so bad you over look the storyline. The bottomline is the movie has a five star price with a one star budget. If you have seen Show Stoppers and thought it was wack, this movie is worse.

I just saw this film and had low expectations, as I do about most films regarding black Greek life. However, it wasn't wholly disappointing.

First, the story itself was strong. It's not a "Greek" movie so much as it is a movie about the multiple facets of brotherhood: kin, friendship, and fraternalism. I must say that I appreciated the the film wasn't about pledging or hazing.

Another strong point is that it highlights West Coast black Greek life. Having been made in the East and noticing that the South gets the most "shine" it was nice to see the filmmaker's take of what brotherhood is like in California. Bonus points (in the case of the Alphas, at least) using actual members as parts of the step teams. One in particular was recognizable as a former national board member.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the tertiary story of the struggle for Mu Chi Sorority (ostensibly a multicultural sorority) to gain recognition and acceptance by the Greek council on campus.

While the story is very strong and the ideas transmitted are moving, the writing itself doesn't take you all the way there. In moments of weak dialogue, the brothers in the film, played by Shedrack Anderson III and Chris Facey give extraordinarily nuanced performances.

(In fact, the film probably could have been saved if the scenes between the brothers were improvised. Shedrack in particular nails the role of the unloved brother living in his big brother's shadow.)

And I'm ever surprised to say that Sinbad played the role of stern, cynical father very well. It's clear which son he prefers and which he wants to "man up." Vanessa Bell Calloway also does a good job as the long-suffering wife and mother who tried to dote on each son equally.

Unfortunately, I can't give the film any more credit. As I said, the story is strong, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired. The dialogue among the students isn't always believable, and the female characters in the story serve as nothing more than post modern Jezebels and women in peril.

The acting, aside from the performances I mentioned (as well as the usually funny Schrunchoo), wasn't great. Sure, there was drama but there wasn't much nuance.

Sadly, the production values weren't anywhere near other films about college life such as Stomp the Yard or Drumline. Which is a shame, really -- Stompin' had a far superior storyline than either of those films.

Buy the film because the story needs to be told and heard. But keep an open mind about it.

This is a good movie. Sinbad is back and so is Vannessa Belle. I highly recommend you see this movie!