Crossover (PG-13)

Basketball players come of age in lame drama.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
5400_orig.jpg
Movie details
  • Studio: Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures
  • Directed By: Preston A. Whitmore II
  • Cast: Wesley Jonathan, Anthony Mackie
  • Running Time: 095 minutes
  • Release Date: 09/01/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 02/20/2007
  • Genre: Drama
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: sexual content and some language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the film includes frequent images of women in scant outfits. Sex scenes show kissing and bodies dressed in underwear embracing. The film features some rough basketball (bodies slamming into each other, falling). The scam in the movie involves betting on basketball, fixing games, and paying off players. A motorcycle crashes into a car, and the rider flies up into the air and ends up in the hospital (with scrapes on his face and a worried friend in the room).

Families can talk about the friendship between Tech and Noah: How does the fact that they feel they "owe" each other for past favors shape their current choices? How might the lack of parental or other authority figures influence their choices? How does the movie represent their girlfriends? Why are so many sports movies so similar?

Message

Social Behavior:

Characters cheat and lie (two guys hustle for money on basketball court; a girl lies about the father of her unborn child); two protagonists argue then reconcile.

Consumerism:

One player performs in a TV ad that resembles Nike or Gatorade ads.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Cigar and cigarette smoking; champagne at a restaurant dinner; background drinking at parties/clubs.

Violence

Occasional arguments/bumps between players on basketball court; motorcycle accident leaves character injured with red scrapes on face.

Sex

Women in skimpy clothes repeatedly; sexy dancing in nightclubs; characters kiss passionately; non-explicit sexual intercourse (characters in underwear embrace); sexual slang.

Language

Profanity includes several uses of "s--t" and a couple of n-words (spoken by black characters); plus other words/phrases like "sucker," "pinch that loaf," and "sorry ass."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

Once a sports agent, Vaughn (Wayne Brady) now rigs basketball games. He stages the games in an abandoned Detroit train station, and gives his paid-off players gorgeous red and gold uniforms and cheerleaders. As Vaughn's disappointed girlfriend (Kristen Wilson) tells him, running underground games isn't much of a career. One of the players is reaching a similar conclusion. Though he's making money and meeting pretty girls at the games, Tech (Anthony Mackie) is tiring of the routine and has aspirations to play professionally in Europe. Tech’s childhood friend Noah (Wesley Jonathan) wants to go to medical school. A gifted ballplayer, Noah gets a basketball scholarship to a university in L.A., and brings Tech along for the orientation. Around the same time, the boys meet girls. Noah falls for super-sexy Vanessa (Eva Pigford), while Tech likes the slightly more demure Eboni (Alecia Fears). They bring the women to sunny California, where they encounter some adversity and reveal lingering tensions.

Is it any good?

1
Though it's full of powerhouse basketball scenes, Crossover is inept and emotionally unconvincing. The images zip and zap, the cuts are slamming, the colors are extra bright, and the real-life street ball players -- including Philip Champion -- are impressive. But the slick surface can't cover up the tediously contrived storyline, retread plot, and mostly lackluster performances.

Wholly undeveloped and erratic, the characters’ relationships -- old and new -- lurch from one dramatic confrontation to another, without much motivation or sense. Indeed, most of the movie's melodramatic content is indicated by the muddy, canned soundtrack, which is to say, none of it is compelling... except the games.

Related Video

Other choices

Above the Rim
Glory Road

White Men Can't Jump
Love & Basketball

Hoop Dreams
Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

1


Posted on 12/05/07 by Mr. Green Adult contributor

HORRIBLE!

This is one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen! Right at the top with a handfull of 80's movies that I will not mention in this paragraph. It is full of bad acting and bad basketball scenes. Don't even waste your time on this movie or it will Cross you over!
5


Posted on 08/10/07 by concernedmommy Adult contributor

Great Movie

Uplifting and sensational basketball drama
0

Posted on 02/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

I lost six brain cells watching this!

My parents, sisters, and I hated it.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

1


Posted on 12/05/07 by Mr. Green Adult contributor

HORRIBLE!

This is one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen! Right at the top with a handfull of 80's movies that I will not mention in this paragraph. It is full of bad acting and bad basketball scenes. Don't even waste your time on this movie or it will Cross you over!
5


Posted on 08/10/07 by concernedmommy Adult contributor

Great Movie

Uplifting and sensational basketball drama

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

0

Posted on 02/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

I lost six brain cells watching this!

My parents, sisters, and I hated it.
Review It

Great Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans

Great Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
50%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
0%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
0%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
50%
2 votes