The Crusades

In Leo Milano's THE CRUSADES we experience a semi-autobiographically tale, told through the director's personal and artistic lens of what it was like to come of age at private all boys school in Chicago.

Those with similar backgrounds and experiences will surely resonate on a deeper level, while all audiences will take joy in seeing such a unique and personal perspective of high school brought to life in uncompromising style.

As a female viewer, I appreciate getting a ticket to ride a male coming-of-age rollercoaster that's chock full of the usual jokes and hijinks, but also emotional depth. While the film is set in all-male spaces and perspectives, it refreshingly avoids "male fantasy" tropes and offers more complex, authentic, and bittersweet takes on coming-of-age milestones.

Rather than paint over his past with happy endings and easy triumphs, Milano offers up the insecurities, neuroses, mistakes that are the true tenants of adolescence. Any confidence, personal growth, or female adoration that protagonist Leo (an irresistible Rudy Pankow) is able to cultivate for himself, is true to life: messy and hard-earned. It's a testament to the beauty of indie film and this team in particular, that THE CRUSADES brilliantly avoids the sense of entitlement and self-indulgence that oozes from so many films in this category.

Even more commendable is the fact that the filmmakers seem to genuinely care about including all audiences along for the ride. The movie manages to hit high-stakes antics and big comedic swings while also using the storytelling to give us thorough understandings of the characters and their journeys. Fans of Superbad, Everybody Wants Some!! And Ferris Bueller's Day Off will all be satisfied by this artfully told, unapologetically fun, coming-of-age chronicle and refreshed by a narrative that properly honors the rough patches of growing up.

This was a wild fun time! Well shot and edited. I had a blast throughout. The score was excellent. Strong messages underlying. Twists and turns with wonderful storytelling. Felt very much like a modern Warriors while also doing its own thing.

I related with Sean from past experiences. But Coach Krieger was quite the character. Took you back to the good ole days as a high Schooler teen. The casting was pretty spot on.

So much can can happen in a short period of time and this film captures that perfectly. This film deserves a wide release on Physical Media. The cinematography at the end with the sunrise is absolutely beautiful and perfect!

A fresh take on a high school comedy. Great acting, writing, cinematography and directing. Many quotable lines that stick in your head for weeks! Additionally, there is a good bit of action throughout the film. In this movie, as in real high school, boys are getting into fights and fleeing from the cops as a house party gets busted.

The three main characters deliver a heart felt performance and are supported by a cast of extremely talented actors you can't help but fall in love with.

We will be watching Leo Milano films for years to come. Can't wait to see what he does next!

The Crusades will not disappoint! 10 out of 10.

As I am on a mission to watch every movie from every main Outer Banks actor, here's one of the only films Rudy Pankow is in. The Crusades is something I was really surprised by! It's a fresh take on high school comedy with some decent acting from side characters and great acting from Rudy himself. The movies funny, enjoyable, and a good time. I understand the hate that this gets, but it doesn't mind me. I liked it and I would be happy if a sequel released that was a follow up after the school merger. Either way, The Crusades is worth a watch. Maybe you like it, and maybe you won't but it's streaming on Paramount+ and Showtime! Overall a 4/5 for me!

This is just a PSA not to waste your money on this. I was fooled into it by this supposed 8.8 rating which was more obviously stacked by people involved in the movie. The acting is so so bad, there is zero storyline, and it's a giant waste of an hour and forty minutes.

There's zero laughs and there's not a single character in the movie that is likable. They all come off as completely whiny and entitled. You're supposed to root for them but at the end you actually hope they all get their asses kicked. It's the worst high school hi jinx movie I've ever seen.

If I come across a movie with any of the main guys acting in it, I'll know to immediately pass on it. They were really that bad. And if the writer is involved in another movie, I'll know there's really no storyline.