A fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world, before realizing that it takes more than talent to reach the top.
I love that we get into this world of marching bands. We barely see any football players -- we see the top of their helmets as they're getting out of the way.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
16 Dec 2002
fresh:
Offers little that's surprising or groundbreaking, but, because the script is smart enough not to insult us and to develop a group of interesting characters, the act of watching the film is an entertaining experience rather than a tedious exercise.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
17 Dec 2002
fresh:
A superlative B movie -- funny, sexy, and rousing.
– Owen Gleiberman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Dec 2002
fresh:
Charles Stone III is a craftsman with brains and taste, an instinctive sense of where to put the camera and the discipline not to belabor scenes.