MOVIE TITLE: Jump In! (Freestyle Edition)
GENRE: Musical drama
RUNNING TIME: 85 minutes
RATING:
WHO'S IN IT: Corbin Bleu, David Reivers, Shanica Knowles, Lavan Greene, Kylee Russell, Keke Palmer.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: This is a film about ropes. There is the single one that young boxer Izzy jumps over as he trains to be a champion boxer as his father dreams, the dual ones, the girls of the 'Joy Jumpers' double dutch skipping team (led by Mary) twirl and the triple strands within which Izzy practises his pugilism. There is a figurative rope as well, the one that binds Izzy, his little sister, Karen, and their father to the recently deceased lady of the house. That is the start of what makes Jump In! much more than the typical 'boy goes from macho sport to girls' game and comes up trumps' story, as the expected Disney fare of growing pains with loads of music is given depth by several sub-plots. There is also the tussle between son's desires and father's expectations, coming to a head when, after missing training for secret double dutch practice, son tells father: "You wouldn't have heard me unless I was talking about boxing. That's all we talk about since Mom died. I don't even like it anymore. Not because you don't have a life means you have to take mine away ..." Then, when Izzy goes into his room, he sees the golden gloves boxing award chain and pendant his father has put on to his bed. Double ouch. There is also the matter of the school and neighbourhood bully, Rodney, who Izzy beats in a boxing match, but who demands a rematch, Izzy hearing about his father's problems by the way. Naturally, with the switch of ropes comes the question of just what a man can do, as Rodney takes a picture of Izzy at practice, tints it pink and sticks copies all over the school. And indivi-dualism is worked into the tale, as Izzy tells his teammates, "I never had to depend on a team before. It has always been me and my fists."
Of course, there has to be a little taste of budding love, that coming literally when Mary (who lives on the same building as Izzy) gives him a quick, impulsive kiss on the lips. Of course, there also has to be lots of music (it is Disney) and Jump In! moves to a lively beat, Izzy's single rope moves translating well to double dutch (he renames the team the 'Hot Chili Steppers') and the double dutch moves are crucial to him avoiding Rodney in the ring during their enforced rematch.
OK, so there is some more standard Disney fare, such as the Steppers' nemesis (the Dragons) and a climactic ending scene where all matters are resolved in a moment of triumph. There is a nice, surprising touch at the end of the whirr of ropes and nifty, lightning moves, as the intermittent narrator turns out to be Rodney, coaching a set of fresh-faced children in the art of boxing.
THE REAL LOWDOWN: Jump In! (Freestyle Edition) is cut from the Disney mould, but does not fit squarely into the corny categories.<
Drama
Ratings:
| ★ Save your money |
| ★★ Poor |
| ★★★ Average |
| ★★★★ Great |
★★★★★ Must see
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