Parents' Guide to

Annapolis

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Naval cadet becomes a man in unoriginal drama.

Movie PG-13 2006 108 minutes
Annapolis Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Disney32135
Disney32135 Adult
September 13, 2018
age 16+

Rocky in a military school

I have seen this movie a million times and I think it's basically Rocky in a military school. It does not show how life at the Naval Academy is in reality and it has a lot of disturbing scenes like they are subjected to constant hazing and verbal torture. It's mostly about boxing which I think is cool. Again it does not show what these young people who go to this school have to go through in real life aside from sports.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In ANNAPOLIS, second generation shipbuilder Jake (James Franco) aspires to be a U.S. Naval officer. Though his father Bill (Brian Goodman) discourages such dreaming, Jake applies and gets in. At school, Jake learns to get along with his multicultural bunkmates: insecure Twins (Vicellous Shannon), self-loving Estrada (Wilmer Calderon), and hardworking Loo (Roger Fan). While Lt. Cmdr. Burton (Donnie Wahlberg) quietly supports him, boxing coach McNally (Chi McBride) treats Jake like a plebe. At the same time, Jake finds trouble with Midshipman Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson), a most excellent boxer, former marine, and hardnosed unit leader, and imminent romance with another older classmate, Ali (Jordana Brewster). Jake learns important lessons, including how to persevere even when facing adversity.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

A masculine melodrama, Annapolis suffers from a script that is both formulaic and inconsistent. Predictably, Jake runs smack into the requisite inspirational father figures (see also: Louis Gossett, Jr. in An Officer and a Gentleman).

Roger Fan, who played Daric in director Justin Lin's previous, better film, Better Luck Tomorrow, is charismatic and could have easily pulled off the lead role in this film, and Tyrese Gibson turns in a truly compelling performance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the relationship between Jake and his working class father, Bill. How does the son's aspiration first threaten Dad, then make him proud? How does the movie use traditional means to define "masculinity" -- boxing, physical tests, dominance over other men? How does the film's diverse cast suggest that different individuals might work together?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: January 27, 2006
  • On DVD or streaming: June 27, 2006
  • Cast: James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Vicellous Shannon
  • Director: Justin Lin
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors
  • Studio: Buena Vista
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 108 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: some violence, sexual content and language.
  • Last updated: December 2, 2022

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