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Annapolis is the toughest naval academy in the country, and it is also incredibly difficult to get into. Huard (?), a young man who builds navy ships across the river from the academy he has dreamed of going to, gets himself accepted into the academy by bugging the living hell out of a Congressman, although he doesn't seem to be up for the challenge.
There are two strengths that the naval school is looking for: physical and mental. Huard has the physical strength with no problem, but his attitude towards the naval education leads him to a lot of difficulty, for both him and his mates. He is seen as the worst person in the academy, which is shown in a humerous way by his room mate, ? (?).
Huard also has a respect problem, especially for his superior officer, Cole (?). Huard acts as if he is the innocent student who does nothing wrong and gets mad at the teacher for disciplining him, but he is actually a weak link who needs to be dealt with, which Cole does, hoping to mold him into a good officer. The film tries to make their relationship seem strained, but Cole doesn't seem to be that hard on him, making Huard's outbursts seem out of line.
Another thing that the naval academy looks for is the ability to ask for help, which is another weakness of Huard, though one he overcomes as he prepares for the Brigades, a boxing tournament that Annapolis has every year. He works hard gaining weight, with the help of ?, to become a heavyweight so he could face Cole in a boxing match. He also works hard at training, with the help of Halloway and ?, the man who recommended him for the academy. The final match is a brutal and well shot fight.
"Annapolis" is a good film, a mixture of drama and humor, with added action due to the boxing matches. I could have done without the romantic fling, but I enjoyed myself while watching it. The acting is strong and ? is able to tell a good story, though I'm not sure how many people will be interested in watching a film about a naval academy, especially when the previews fail to make the film look as entertaining as it is.
Written by: RF
“Annapolis” tells the tale of a young man who decides to attend a Naval Academy upon graduating high school, with the hopes of fulfilling his childhood desires to box, in addition to remembering his deceased mother.
Lead man Jake Huard, played by James Franco, was never one to make important decisions. His father attended Dartmouth College, became a businessman and hoped his son would follow in his footsteps, but he chose to enter a Naval Academy instead, which was difficult because he was accepted late and would have some catching up to do.
Jake was the kind of kid who preferred to think for himself and did not respond well to authority. Throughout the movie, sergeants tried to help him shape up and become dedicated to the tasks at hand.
Jake was constantly getting in trouble while trying to help other Academy students improve their skills in everyday tasks, such as jogging routines.
He had the fantasy of becoming a renowned boxer, competing against both friends and men of higher ranks who put him down in the past. Jake actually turned his life around, becoming dedicated while also falling in love with one of his superiors, though they tried to keep their relationship as low profile as possible.
I could have gone without a couple parts, such as the racism of one officer, and the whole shower scene. It is unfortunate that some people today are still racist, and it pains me to see that on screen.
The friendships forged by Jake and his fellow Naval aspirants seemed realistic and thoughtful. The love between Jake and Ali, played by Jordana Brewster, also seemed sweet, though not fully realistic because if they were dating in real life she would probably be suspended from her job, or Jake would be kicked out of the Academy.
This reviewer is not a huge fan of warlike movies, and can go either way on tales about boxing, so she was not sure what to expect when she entered the theater. However, this was a truly well made movie that had a good deal of action and was enjoyable.
I would recommend this movie, both to be seen in theaters or rented once it is released. Though I attended a sneak preview shown a few days ago compliments of The Phoenix, I am happy to admit this is a movie I would be willing to see again in the future, it was that good.
Written by: SL