Crossroads

Rating:
Summary: Can She Act? Yes, But ... Britney Is Wasted among Melodrama
Review: Maybe you won't believe me, in which case I won't blame you, but Britney Spears, against all our fearful expectations, can really act. OK, not as good an actor as Meg or ... whoever, but, given a good guidance and material, she will show more than you expect, than just "uh"s and "ah"s.

So, if you're a fan of Britney, don't be afraid of saying that you like this movie, which traces the road trip of three girls searching for their future, including Britney's chracter Lucy. In there, you get such things as:

1) Britney dancing on bed (only wearing underwear) lip-syncing Maddona's hit "Open Your Heart." You call it the film's unashamed attempt of capitalizing her, but I admit, yep, I loved the scene.

2) Britney singing Joan Jet's hit song "I Love Rock'n'Roll" in karaoke bar (just like one scene in "Coyote Ugly"), which is very enjoyable.

3) Young Lucy (Britney's character) in the opening scene is played none other than Britney's own sister, Jamie Lynn Spears (who else?).

And so on and on. All right.

For all lovely Britney, however, I could not love the final result of the movie itself, because it lacks fun. To be honest, I didn't care the plot or script from the first. I just wanted some fun, which is so scarce in the film.

Like "Glitter," the film opts for serious moments like ... well, date rape or that kind of thing (not Miss Spears'), and if you remember the director is Tamara Davis, favorite of Drew Barrymore (colaborated in "Guncrazy" and "Best Men"), you will understand my dismay. Like those cult films, "Crossroads" is not entirely bad. It just a mixed bag, with too little joyful scenes scattered among too much unnecessary melodramatic moments.

During the scene of a karaoke bar, one of the friends, says she lost her voice, claiming she is not confident enough to sing in front of the audience. Last moment, you know, Briteny reluctantly takes over the microphone, and she sings. These corny, obvious direction kills the potential charm Britney might have spilled over the screen. Let her sing, let her dance; there was that charm in the opening, and the ending credits which reveals some of funny Britney behind-the-scene. But the charm soon vanished. A real shame.

Rating:
Summary: Okay, Britney Spears can act. Now find her a REAL movie
Review: Britney Spears is certainly the best thing about "Crossroads," although I did get the impression they were doing their best to exploit her in this film. I mean even though this film is about three girl friends rediscovering their friendships on a crosscountry road trip (at least at face value), the only one of the three women to be seen in any serious state of undress is Britney Spears. That just strikes me as being a bit much.

The story is as old as the hills. Once upon a time there were three young girls who were best friends, but when they graduate from high school they have gone in totally different directions. However, they had vowed that at midnight on graduation day they would dig up a box they had buried eight years earlier in which they placed their dreams. They show up and end up trekking from Georgia to California for different reasons: Mimi (Taryn Manning) wants to go audition for a music company in L.A., Kit (Zoe Saldana) wants to track down her fiance in the same city, while Lucy (Britney) wants to get dropped off in Arizona to see the mom who abandoned her when she was three. Behind the wheel of the convertible is Ben Kimble (Anson Mount), who supposedly just got out of prison for killing a man.

Sure fired recipe for fun, huh? Toss into the mix Lucy's overbearing father (Dan Ackroyd), the need to have enough money to finance the trip, and several other traditional road picture elements. But clearly the point of this film is to get Britney Spears up on the silver screen to see if she can make the transition. Ironcially, the first time we see Spears she is singing along to a Madonna's "Open Your Heart" (which might be some sort of exorcism rite given the Material Girl's hit and miss film career). This leads me to make a series of disjointed comments regarding "Crossroads":

(1) I like the way the music is worked into the film as Lucy and the other girls sing along with what is on the radio, do karoke, or whatever. (2) Britney Spears might have the whitest teeth on earth. (3) Henry (Justin Long) might have had a lot more success with his graduate night plans if he had put on his list that Lucy is a real babe. (4) People who cannot stand up and sing at a karoke bar should rethink plans for careers as a recording artist. (5) There is a major highway that can get you from Georgia to California. Besides, how in the world if you leave first thing in the morning from Georgia can you only make it as far as Alabama by nightfall not to mention taking another two days to get to Louisiana? (6) I was going to give the film bonus points for finding someone to look like a young Britney Spears as Young Lucy, but they cheated in this film. (7) Britney Spears' two big songs for this film, "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" and "Overprotected", both fit the storyline perfectly, which is pretty impressive when you stop and think about it. (8) I think all four of the travellers in this road picture did credible jobs of acting and it would be nice if they each found some decent property to do next.

Rating:
Summary: Stop the Madness!
Review: BRITNEY CANNOT, I REPEAT CANNOT ACT JUST LIKE SHE CANNOT SING.

Rating:
Summary: Why all the criticism?
Review: I personally don't understand why this movie is being trashed so much. Really, what is so bad about it? It's not an Oscar winner, but it can still be a good movie. A lot of people are going to put this movie down just because Britney Spears is in it. Well, I personally think that she carried her character far enough to make it a good film. She stayed in character and yes, she does have potential as an actress. So, give her a break and go see the movie. You don't have to be a major Britney fan to enjoy it--I'm no die-hard fan of hers, and yet I still liked the movie. For example, Mariah Carey's movie "Glitter" was more directed toward her fans, but "Crossroads" is not so much like that. It has a bit of a stronger plot than "Glitter" did, and it's enough like any other teen movie. There are plenty of good things about it, and the message of friendship is good. They get the point across. I didn't see anything wrong with Britney Spears' acting. She delivered a believable performance and deserves a chance. I would personally recommend the movie. Just go see it and then, if you can still honestly say that it was horrible and pathetic....well, then, the opinion is yours.

Rating:
Summary: "Citizen Kane" for a new generation?
Review: Wouldn't that have been a scary thought? I remember the hype machine going into full effect for the release of this film, and it seemed like it was going to achieve the instant, inexplicable success that Britney Spears's abysmal recording have received - and given her infamous ego, I'm sure she thought so, too. But this was not to be - the film was blasted by critics and more or less tanked at the box office. Nevertheless, I watched the movie with an open mind - either I was going to be pleasantly surprised or it would be 90 minutes of my life I'd never get back. Not surprisingly, it was the latter.

Think of the whole film as an opportunity for Spears to stroke her own ego: Take a tired road trip premise, throw in talented actors like Dan Aykroyd and Kim Cattrall to make the film look somewhat credible (both must have been hard out for a paycheck) along with some irrelevant teen actors and what you get is uninspired, formulaic drivel with no discernible purpose. Spears is unconvincing as an intelligent high school graduate who decides to bypass college for a potential career in music: in one ridiculous scene, she reads an atrocious poem to one of her friends (the one where she says she's not a girl, and not a woman either) who actually thinks it's brilliant (yeah - if it's the first poem you've ever heard) and turns it into a song. There's an unintentionally hilarious scene that features an awkward moment between Spears and a kid that looks exactly like Paul from "The Wonder Years": they are on the verge of a promiscuous act before Spears concludes that she's "not ready" - the exchange in the aftermath of this is downright embarrassing. Apparently they added this scene to differentiate Spears's character Lucy from the person portraying her - it doesn't advance the "plot" (of which there is hardly any) at all and merely acts as filler.

Take the most maudlin, melodramatic movie you can think of and multiply it by 100: that in a nutshell describes Crossroads. There's nothing you'll see here that hasn't been done before: It's just an excuse for Spears to prance around in tight clothes and underwear.

In summary: Unreleasable if not for the presence of Spears (everything she touched up to this point turned to gold - I still can't see why), I would have to say that Crossroads is not worth your time. Spears has no business on the screen and would be better served to add more substance to her music and stop singing through her nose if she has any hopes of having a career with longevity.

Rating:
Summary: God-awful movie
Review: Britney Spears' acting debut was Crossroads which was released in February of 2002. MTV and the egomaniacal Ms Spears were toting this movie as a box office smash when in reality it was a box office DUD! Britney's movie Crossroads, not to confuse you with the great Ralph Macchio/Steve Vai rock/blues movie of the same name which kicked ass, was her equal of Heaven's Gate. She kept on spending money but as soon as the third album did poor, you knew this movie would do bad business. Even Eminem's 8 Mile (although I dislike him as much as Britney) grossed over $130 million or so. Crossroads' plot was simple, girl goes on cross-country trip with friends and comes of age. So predictable, didn't we see this script in Stand by Me or any other movie. Why would a great comic actor like Dan Aykroyd whom appeared in classics like The Great Outdoors, Dragnet and The Blues Brothers appear in such a snoozefest. Britney is so believable as an actress that she hasn't made another movie since. Her career is falling faster than the Titanic. This movie did poor at the movies and her popularity continues to wane. Avoid and watch the Ralph Macchio movie of the same name from 1986 instead.

Rating:
Summary: Ew.
Review: I saw this movie because I lost a bet. Ok, Britney can't sing, and now she has proven to us all that she can not act either. When I was asked to rate this movie, I found myself disturbed that the lowest I could go was one star. That is a real stretch. While MTV has provided us with a FEW good movies, this is not one of them. Big suprise. Isn't it about time that she faded away into music history, following others like Milly Vanilli and NKOTB?

Rating:
Summary: Crossroads (2002)
Review: Britney Spears seems to be following in Madonna's footsteps, but in her own unique way. Back in 1983 and 1984, Madonna became the freshest voice in music by releasing her first two albums. In 1985, Madonna became the freshest face in movies by starring in her first movie, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. Britney Spears in going down the same path. In 1999, Britney became the freshest voice in music and now's she become the freshest face in movies. This is her first starring role in a major film.

Three ten year old girls named LUCY (Britney Spears), KIT (Zoe Saldana), and MIMI (Taryn Manning) had gotten a box and each put a wish into the box. They buried the box with the intention of digging it up on Midnight on the night of their High School graduation. LUCY put a locket in the box. The locket contained a picture of her and her mother. LUCY wished to find her mother. MIMI put in a keychain. The charm was a globe. MIMI wished to get out and see the world. KIT put in her Bride Barbie. KIT wished to become a bride. They vowed to be best friends forever, but unfortunately, that never happened.

Eight years later, it is the dawn of their high school graduation. LUCY is a quiet person who wants get out and fun. She's very quiet because her father is been so overprotective in order to keep her from making the same mistake her mother made. MIMI is at times insecure, but very outgoing. She has enough street smarts to know what the world is like. She needs to be this way because she is now six months pregnant. This happened over Christmas Break. Her boyfriend blew her off just so he can hang out with his friends. MIMI had more than a few beers and a seemingly nice guy with a blue beer bottle offered her a ride home. The ride he had in mind was a bump in the back seat with MIMI. KIT is a very prissy, feminine girl, who happens to be the most popular in the whole school. MIMI seems to be the only one who wants to dig up the box. LUCY would have but has "plans" with her prom date, HENRY (played by Justin Long). KIT chooses not to go because she's too mature to do something childish. MIMI sets out on her own only to find KIT with a shovel. They both go looking for the spot until they find LUCY. They dig up the box and find their wishes. KIT's wish was to be a bride and her wish will be coming true. She's marrying her boyfriend Dylan. LUCY finds her wish and is still not sure if it's coming true yet. Her wish was to find her mother. MIMI finds her wish. Her wish was to see the world. Being that she's pregnant, LUCY and KIT don't think it will be coming true for awhile, but MIMI's going to make it happen. She gives the two a magazine article. It's an add for auditions for a record company in LA. MIMI asks LUCY and KIT to join her. KIT only goes so she could see DYLAN. LUCY goes along only to be dropped off in TUSCAN, ARIZONA so she could see her mother. They get a ride with BEN (ANSON MOUNT).

By the third day, the car breaks down. KIT and MIMI become very bitter with each other, but MIMI's idea was the last chance the three had to becoming best friends again. They joined for a karaoke contest. Their performance of I LOVE ROCK 'N ROLL paid them enough money for the car and the trip. That night, the three became best friends again.

They reached ARIZONA and let LUCY off in front of the house that belonged to her mother, CAROLINE (played by KIM CATRELL). Shocked to see her, Caroline invites LUCY in only to break her heart. Caroline said that she never wanted Lucy and that her father made her give birth. Lucy was just a mistake. So, she leaves and rejoins her friends.

I will not give away the rest. But this a movie that should be viewed by everybody. It goes to show you that dreams may change, but friends are forever and beyond. Watch this and prepare to be amazed at how a friendship goes from being great to bad to unbelievably unbreakable.

Rating:
Summary: On the road. 16th april 2004.
Review: Crossroads, 3 women kit mimi and lucy travel on the road to go auditioning in a singing concert. The man who drives them is britneys love,[in the film].

Rating:
Summary: Spearseriffic!
Review: Britney Spears, Taryn Manning, & Zoe Saldana play 3 young woman who come together after not being friends anymore since they were young girls. Lucy{Spears} Kit{Saldana} & Mimi{Manning} go on a cross country trip with Ben, a friend of Mimi's. Kit wants to see her boyfriend, Mimi wants to embark on a singing career, & Lucy wants to see her mom. The 3 ladies grow close, & lean for eachother in time of need. Lucy falls in love and gets deeply hurt, & Mimi & Kit suffer devastating loses & experience tremendous heartbreak. Despite the tragedy, Lucy, Mimi, Kit find something they missed & needed.......friendship. Stunning performance by Spears & a heartfelt story with tons of fun. A+