(Work those Summer Whites, James baby…)
CAST: James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Donnie Wahlberg, Vicellous Shannon, Roger Fan, Wilmer Calderon.
DIRECTOR: Justin Lin
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and unexpected ROCKY/OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN mashups ahead…
You have to hand it to Jake Huart (James Franco), the hero of our next Military Flick. This guy is pretty much the textbook definition of “determined and tenacious.” To wit, he has done the following: (1) pestered a congressman over 30 times to get the poor man’s endorsement to attend the prestigious Annapolis military academy; and (2) agreed to take the place of a last-minute dropout - with class starting the very next day. I should also point out that most other cadets have had months to prepare. But does this stop our Jake? Well, if you think it does, please look up the meaning of “determined” and “tenacious.”
I guess it doesn’t help that Jake has grown up in a steel and iron works family, with a factory just across the river from the famed institution. Ever since he was a kid, Jakey has been dreaming about crossing that river and attending Annapolis. His mother has always supported this ambition, while his father… well, let’s just say that Pops would be happier than a sailor on shore leave in Thailand if Jake stayed in the steel factory building ships.
Anyone who’s seen AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN or any other military academy movie knows what is waiting for Jake: (1) screaming instructors; (2) ridiculously-detailed procedures governing everything from how to dress, how to make your bed, to how to pick your ass if you have a wedgie; (3) colorful and cranky fellow cadets and (3) bossy upperclassmen who turns out to be (4) the hottie you were mackin’ on at the bar on your last night as a civilian. Yes, it’s awkward.
It doesn’t help matters that one of his instructors, Midshipman Cole (Tyrese Gibson), seems to be riding Jake pretty hard. Cole is also determined to run Jake out of Annapolis. All those who think Cole sat down and watched AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN twenty times before class started, raise your hand. Also, if you slam back a couple of shots of vodka, then squint at the screen, Jake kind of looks like Richard Gere.
Will Cole succeed in getting rid of Jake? Or will Jake prove himself? Does Cole really dislike Jake anyway? Or is it some sort of “tough love” ritual? Does Cole actually - gasp - believe in Jake? Will that hot upperclassmen (excuse me, upperclasswoman) named Ali (Jordana Brewster) help mentor Jake? And what happens when Jake decides to participate in the famous Annapolis Boxing Brigade? Will he finally find his calling and beat the tar out of his instructors?
Let’s hope so. Those fuckers deserved to be smacked around.
BUT, SERIOUSLY: As I wrote above, if you’ve seen AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN and any other Military Academy Flick, you pretty much know where ANNAPOLIS is going. I had actually thought about reviewing OFFICER originally, but decided that another film with James Franco was in order in light of 127 HOURS. Besides, most people know about OFFICER, but not many have seen ANNAPOLIS. That’s probably because it’s a pale imitation.
ANNAPOLIS is technically well-made, sleek, and reasonably engaging. The problem is it feels far too familiar, with no real surprises beyond the novelty of having the film climax in a boxing tournament. It travels the well-trodden path of a young man’s coming of age, and doesn’t really offer up anything new. As a result, while the film is pleasant and diverting enough, it also never soars beyond your average Military Flick.
Which is a shame, because its leading man and woman certainly deserved better. While the script doesn’t really give Jake Huart much of an arc besides “learning how to work with a team,” the talented James Franco manages to wring maximum sympathy for the character. His best scenes are the ones where he briefly gives up and returns home to discover his former steel factory workers have been placing bets on how long he’d last - which forces him to return and prove them wrong. Also, the very first time Jake arrives at Annapolis is touchingly played out: happy families saying goodbye to their sons and daughters, while Jake - alone and without his parents - moves among them, trying to stand straight but not quite able to do so. This moment is vividly played by Franco with no words, and is the moment we are hooked into Jake’s journey.
Jordana Brewster makes a nice and mellow heroine for the more intense Jake. Ali is portrayed by Brewster as a sweet girl who can also easily be tough and relentless during training sessions - but obviously prefers the humane approach. The script never really develops her romance with Jake, but instead substitutes it with training sessions for the boxing match, with Ali being the trainer. At least this plot twist gives Ali something more to do than smile and give Jake meaningful looks.
As Cole, the hard-ass instructor who actually cares for Jake’s success, Tyrese Gibson is less effective than his co-stars. While Gibson ably shows Cole’s stoic determination and drive, we never really see anything beyond that. He tells Ali that he actually sees a lot of himself in Jake and wants him to make it, but Gibson never adequately portrays this hidden concern. It comes down to that old adage for writing that is equally true for acting: show - don’t tell.
Donnie Wahlberg, Roger Fan, Wilmer Calderon, and Vicellous Shannon are adequate as, respectively: (1) the officer who also roots for Jake to succeed; and (2) the three fellow cadets who share Jake’s room.
In summary, if ANNAPOLIS had been released before AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, it might have rated higher. However, coming in the wake of that classic and many other Military Academy Flicks, it’s feels a tad too familiar. Even with good performances from James Franco and Jordana Brewster.
