Bring It On: In It to Win It

This film essentially begins with an all-star cheerleading team from California named the West Coast Sharks traveling to the Summer Cheer Camp in Florida to compete against their bitter rival from New York known as the East Coast Jets in a contest for the national championship. Although the East Coast Jets have beaten the West Coast Sharks three times in a row, the captain of the Sharks named "Carson" (Ashley Benson) is determined to win this time. Naturally, the captain of the Jets by the name of "Brooke" (Cassandra Scerbo) is equally determined to beat the Sharks. But what neither of them realize is that another team known as the Flamingoes has suddenly emerged with a lineup that appears to better than either of them. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, even though the similarity to West Side Story was quite obvious at the start, the film then shifted into something quite different around the midpoint with interpersonal drama giving way to increased dancing and acrobatics. Unfortunately, what was absent from this sports-comedy was any noticeable humor and that seriously affected this film as a whole. And it's because of this rather glaring omission that I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

I must say, I loved it though Bring it on: All or Nothing was my favorite. In it to Win it was far most different from all the Bring it on movies. Carson (Ashley Benson): Cute and funny. Really fitted well. Playing as the main character and the captain of The West Coast Sharks. Chelsea (Jennifer Tisdale) made me laugh during the movie. Quotes including: 'You Sharks are like tuna" including more which I'm not sure about. The Double Dragon for the idea, WOWEE! SMART! Favorite part of the movie. The cheer offs as well. Guest Appearance: Ashley Tisdale, on the Ending Credits. Her songs in the movie included ''Headstrong'', ''Be Good to Me'' and ''He Said She Said'' I didn't think they were cursed because i LOVED IT. 9/10

Carson (Ashley Benson) leads the West Coast Sharks against her nemesis Brooke (Cassie Scerbo) and the East Coast Jets. Jets have won three years in a row. The Jets are precise while the Sharks are daring. Carson falls for flirtatious Penn (Michael Copon) who turns out to be a Jet. The Sharks are given the Spirit Stick but somebody steals it. The rivals get into an off-campus cheer off resulting in many injuries. To field a complete team, they have to combine forces and work together.

Ashley Benson is a fine actress but Hilary Duff lite actually hurts. I like Michael Copon's brash arrogance. Ashley Tisdale has a small cameo. The rest of the cast is either forgettable or simply bad. The adult characters are beyond bland. The writing isn't helping anyone either. The superficial referencing of West Side Story only gives a veneer of respectability. This is a former interesting franchise that has gone to straight-to-video hell.

I'm a big fan of cheerleader movies, so I looked forward to watching this film. Overall I would say it isn't as good as the previous sequel (Bring it on: All or Nothing), but it does have a few things to say for itself.

The characters are very likable and the acting is good, there are some particularly fun moments to watch, however the script is weak and the finale doesn't have the same WOW factor as previous attempts in the franchise.

It felt like the director was far too busy trying to reference other films than concentrate on this one. The plot is very slow at the mid way point and drags into a disappointing finale.

Those things aside, there isn't a great amount of 'we've seen this all before' so fans of the franchise will probably enjoy it, but perhaps not as much as the other films. If the next film in the franchise has a little less pep and a little more plot, it could be quite good.

I have seen all four of the Bring It On Movies and this was by far the worst one yet. The actress who plays Carson was the best in the movie and the other girls were barely tolerable to watch... a waste of a trip to blockbuster if you ask me.

The plot is set out to be a modern day version of The West Side story, with the two sides coming together to succeed in the end. But bad acting, writing and costumes (these girls are young, but having them wearing two small of shorts resulting in "muffin top" is ridiculous) ruins the movie in the end. No wonder it was a straight to DVD film. Jennifer Tisdale should be ashamed of herself for choosing a part in this movie. She is too old to be playing the high school cheerleader ditz. It might be time to move onto a new career and leave the success to her little sister.