Roll Bounce/Drumline (2002)

ROLL BOUNCE: Full of the humor, mild humiliation, and bittersweet lessons of growing up, this coming-of-age comedy from Malcolm D. Lee (UNDERCOVER BROTHER) unfolds on the South Side of 1970s Chicago. Xavier (Bow Wow, LIKE MIKE) and his wisecracking crew of friends rule the local roller skating rink, but when it closes, their summer looks to be an empty one. Reluctantly, they head over to Sweetwater, the glitzy rink across town where the rich kids skate, and where the cocky Sweetness (Wesley Jonathan) presides over all as the unchallenged king of the floor. The boys are ridiculed upon their arrival, and soon vow revenge at the upcoming competition, for which they begin to hone their skills. Meanwhile, X deals with his troubles at home, as his mother has recently died and his dad, Curtis (Chi McBride, I, ROBOT), struggles to make ends meet. The two attempt to understand each other's grief, and help each another to move beyond it. X also makes the acquaintance of new kid Tori (Jurnee Smollett, COSBY), a gawky girl with braces and a sharp tongue, who tags along with the boys as an ugly duckling, later to emerge a swan. Tori's hot mom (Kellita Smith, KING'S RANSOM) attracts a great deal of attention on the block, notably from two quick-talking garbage men (Mike Epps and Charles Q. Murphy in a hilarious bit part), and X tries to navigate his budding relationship with the seemingly unattainable Naomi (Meagan Good, D.E.B.S.). The roller disco mania is infectious, driven by a great soundtrack featuring artists both new and old. The story, too, hits all the right notes, by turns touching and hilarious, with the underdogs-make-good story avoiding the saccharine, and giving Bow Wow the chance to shine.DRUMLINE: Charles Stone III's crowd-pleasing drama spotlights the previously unheralded world of university marching bands--more specifically, the cutthroat world that energizes Southern black campuses. Devon Miles (Nick Cannon) is a Harlem teenager who receives a full scholarship to attend Atlanta A&T University based on his excellent percussion talents. However, making the transition from hip-hop street drumming to the drumline of the school's legendary marching band is more challenging than Miles expected. For one, the band director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), is determined to reclaim the national championship using old-school tactics, even though his traditional beliefs appear to be leaving A&T in the dust. And then there is Sean (Leonard Roberts), the current drum leader, who is threatened by Devon's skills and frustrated by his fierce individuality. These antagonistic forces, as well as the addition of a cheerleading love interest (Zoe Saldana), combine to test Devon's previously unshakeable confidence. As the season builds toward the BET Big Southern Classic and a showdown with rival Morris Brown University, Devon must swallow his pride and learn to be a team player if he wants his band to win the championship. DRUMLINE proves that any subject can make for an invigorating work of entertainment, if handled properly.