"Roll Bounce": It'll have you rolling

"Roll Bounce," yet another movie where the neighborhood kids gather to compete against, and hopefully defeat the rich enemies with all odds against them is very similar to last year's "You Got Served." However, "Roll Bounce" is much more successful in its character presentation than "You Got Served." The only mistake director Malcolm D. Lee made was casting Bow Wow as X, the main character.

Set during the 1970s roller skating fever, Lee takes the audience to the Southside, where X and his five friends skate at the Garden, a popular neighborhood skating rink. But when the Garden closes, X and his friends are forced to skate at Sweet Waters, a rich skating rink on the other side of town. At Sweet Waters, they enter a skating competition in hopes of beating the wealthy, rival skaters, who also happen to be the defending champs of last year's competition and a Sweet Waters's favorite.

This movie is a simple story with the perfect mix of fun and drama. It takes the childhood dilemma of winning a competition and transforms it into tough lessons about love and coping with the tragedy of death. Throughout the movie, the death of X's mother, who gave birth to both X and his sibling, is an issue that X constantly confronts. Though it has been over a year since she died, his pain is still raw. In the movie, he and his father, Curtis (Chi McBride), a goodhearted, strict man who has been secretly out of work for several months, are work together in a touching father-son scene in which both discuss their long-suppressed problems and help each other get over the death of X's mother. Though "Roll Bounce" took on many tough issues, Lee did an excellent job in keeping it fun and entertaining and suitable for the whole family.

The main success of this movie was its supporting characters. The witty, smart-aleck remarks made by X's best friend, Junior (Brandon T. Jackson), the innocent stupidity of Naps (Rick Gonzalez, "Coach Carter") and the emotional sensitivity of Mixed Mike (Khelo Thomas) are enough reasons in themselves to see the movie. The hilarious, and sometimes harsh, insults made by Junior and often directed toward the newest member of their group of friends, Tori (Jurnee Smollett) will have the audience rolling. Their numerous little quarrels throughout the movie make up some of its most entertaining parts. These young actors do a superb job in displaying the true emotions and interactions of teenagers in a lighthearted way that captures the beauty and innocence of youth.

The same can be said about some of the lesser characters of the movie, such as the few scenes with the garbage collectors. These two characters are the most colorful couple of the movie. In their first encounter with X, they scold him for bringing out the trash late, and take the time to explain the consequences of his actions that end with them losing their jobs and becoming male prostitutes. This exaggerated story is the first of a few scenes involving X and the garbage men that add humor to the movie.

If only Bow Wow's performance was that humorous. After starring in "Like Mike" and "Johnson's Family Vacation," and being on television and on stage since a young age, it's clear that he has had no time for acting lessons. At age 18, his performance skills have actually gotten worse over the years. Bow Wow inconsistently presented his character, displaying sheer joy and intense hatred in unnatural combinations that are unrealistic and confusing. He transforms from an immature skater, to an emotional, and at times responsible, adult, and then back again to a teenager. His ever-shifting portrayal of X downgrades his role as the protagonist and gives "Roll Bounce" a major blow.

Though a better leading actor could have improved the movie, it is nonetheless an accurate portrayal of teenage life in the 70s. Far better than its competing film of last year, "You Got Served," "Roll Bounce" presents a realistic setting, a realistic plot and characters that will have the audience rolling. "Roll Bounce" perfectly combines tough family issues with humor to make it a great family film.