DVD Review: All You've Got
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that kids may be interested because
hip-hop star Ciara stars in the movie. The father of one of the
main characters dies, which may disturb some teens. There's
some unsportsmanlike conduct -- Becca sneaks drugs into another
player's water to sabotage her -- and some kissing. In general,
the film emphasizes learning to get along across ethnic and
socio-economic boundaries and the love of family.
- Families can talk about how the drive to become a great player can lead to cheating. Do you let your ambition get the best of you? In what situations do you work hard to get along with others and how do you help unify your "team" of friends and family?
It seems like the movie business has finally caught on that Title IX means something in girls' lives: Movies about girls playing basketball, surfing, and even doing gymnastics have made it cool for a girl to break a sweat. Unfortunately, that ball stops here: There's a reason ALL YOU'VE GOT went direct to video. Behind the great music and some empathetic characters is a mess of plot, character, and story development.
There are extended breaks in the plot for poorly veiled music videos and some of the most egregious product placement ever seen. All of these are worthy topics for discussion, and if this movie suffers from anything, it's from too much good intention. If you must watch, watch for the music. Groove to Ciara's tunes and enjoy performances by Frankie J, Lil' Rob, and Play-N-Skills. But don't expect to leave this film anything but confused, and maybe wanting to buy some music.
At the girls high school basketball state championship, the upper-class private school Madonnas face off against the Phantoms from South-Central. The Phantoms got flava, they've got songs, and they've got the skills. They beat the Madonnas and celebrate in backyard barbeques with their family. But when the Madonnas' school burns down, the three top players from the Madonnas, Lauren (Sarah Mason), Kaitlin (Taylor Cole) and Becca (singer Ciara) transfer to Cathedral High, home of the Phantoms. In one poignant subplots, Gabby wins the game but loses her father and then her boyfriend. Her struggle to face her demons and go after her goal -- to win the one volleyball scholarship at the University of Southern California -- grips you.
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