 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Pride
- Review Date: June 26, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Feel-good swimming flick takes on racism.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this fact-based drama deals with racism head-on from its very first scene, in which Terrence Howard's character, Jim Ellis, is the only African American at a swim meet in 1960s North Carolina. A scuffle breaks out, and he ends up striking a white cop. He encounters bigotry again in the '70s when he ends up coaching an all-black swim team: The team's wealthier white competitors sabotage and ridicule the black swimmers at meets. But the drama also shows Jim's team making "honky" jokes and goofing off instead of taking competition seriously. Besides the opening brawl, there's another altercation in a pool, when Jim nearly drowns the local drug dealer.
What's the story?
Set in the 1970s, PRIDE follows competitive swimmer-turned-coach Jim Ellis after he's turned down for a coaching job at an all-white academy in the affluent Philadelphia suburbs. Jobless, he takes a temporary gig cleaning up a Philly rec center that's scheduled to close. When he uncovers and refills the pool -- much to the amusement of center maintenance worker Elston (Bernie Mac) -- a few local teens decide to dive in rather than hang out in the parking lot. Thus begins the fledgling swim team, which single-handedly keeps the center open. Of course, when the team members show up at their first official meet in their rickety yellow bus (at the same academy that snubbed Ellis), the race and class divide that separates them from their competitors becomes as crystal as the Olympic-sized pool's water. Ellis is embarrassed at the team's showing, and the kids realize they'll have to fully commit in order to really compete.
Is it any good?
Terrence Howard is an actor of such gravitas that he lends a powerful authenticity to every role he plays. Which is lucky for Pride. As Coach Ellis, Howard saves an otherwise formulaic story (based on real events, no less) from turning into another trite sports drama. Anyone who's seen an inspiring sports movie can guess what happens when the Philly kids train hard, swim fast, and land at a national competition. But even knowing the outcome, viewers can't help but cheer for the underdogs' Pride.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the different forms of racism displayed in the film. Why wouldn't any of the other swimmers get in the pool with Jim? How are his experiences tied in with the American South's segregated past? Jim also deals with prejudice in the North. Are there any differences in the racist attitudes of both regions? What other recent films deal with racism and sports? Is bigotry still an issue in athletics in real life?
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Great Story but beware of racism
As a parent, I would be sure to talk to my children about the cultural issuea of prejudice prior to allowing my children to watch this movie. It was set in late 60's-70's when the issues of racism were more overt. I like the movie alot.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Too much bad language for a PG flick
I rented this because I heard it was a nice feel good flick (and because my dad is an extra in the movie and we wanted to look for him.) I checked this website to see if it was appropriate for my 7 and 9 year olds to watch and got a good vibe. But no, it has every cuss word except the F word in it and I quickly sent them out of the room to watch something else. I wish I had known that in advance. The drug dealer and issues surrounding him are also too much for a 7 and 9 year old. However, I really liked this movie as an adult and I would recommend it to parents with older kids.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Pride Delivers
I had low expectations for Pride after reading a few nasty reviews, but Owen Gleiberman's B+ review in Entertainment Weekly convinced me to take a chance. I must say, I was moved to tears (as were my companions) by the story, by the outstanding supporting cast, and by the magnificent Terrance Howard. Yes, the script was cliched, and there were few surprises, but Howard, Bernie Mac and the others embued their characters with so much honesty and heart it didn't matter. As a former actress, I know that that's all about direction! I highly recommend this film to all ages.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Sunu Gonera |
| Cast: | Bernie Mac, Kimberly Elise, Terrence Howard |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 108 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 22, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | June 26, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic material, language including some racial epithets, and violence. |
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