Movie Reviews

Review in a Hurry: Dog-paddling through familiar waters, Pride stars Terrence Howard as real-life coach Jim Ellis, founder of an all-black swim team in Philly. Howard hustles and flows and keeps the flick afloat, despite the heavy undertow of total predictability. 

The Bigger Picture: Yeah, it's hard out here for a pimp. But it's also hard out here for a college-educated African-American trying to get a teaching job in the '70s. So, Howard, desperate for employment, takes a gig packing up an inner-city recreation center marked for demolition. 

A former competitive swimmer, Howard refurbishes the center's pool and recruits kids hanging on the b-ball court to create a swim team. Of course, they're a ragtag bunch with little drive or discipline. But Coach Howard whips the underdawgs into shape just in time for the state championships, even as druggie dudes, prep school bigots and a concerned city official (Kimberly Elise) threaten to stand in the way of their victory.

This hybrid of countless sports movies has a few rousing moments but hits too many familiar beats—the training montages, the setbacks, the inspirational speeches, the a-hole opponents and the big climactic meet, all set to soaring music. But lest Pride goeth into a fall, the charismatic Howard brings his big-screen mojo, turning in a heartfelt, charismatic performance, even while saddled with eye-rollingly cornball lines.

He's ably supported by the feisty and fetching Elise as his love interest, the guys and gal on his team (though the script merely skims the surfaces of their characters) and cranky Bernie Mac, who provides chuckles as a wisecracking custodian but looks so sweaty throughout he seems on the verge of cardiac arrest. 

So, sure, dive on in—the water's not great, but it's still fine.

The 180—a Second Opinion: If you wanna totally sink this pic, get all bitter that you don't look as cut in swim trunks as these guys do (or maybe it's just me...). Sheez, there are enough ripped torsos on display to fill two Abercrombie catalogs.