Posted: 12/16/2002

Drumline

(2002)

by Hank Yuloff

Life in the band. The high school marching band.

Going in to see Drumline, I already had the lead written: “I’m sure that the producers of Drumline had a marching band consultant, pity they didn’t listen to him.” While not quite true, anyone who ever went 8 to 5 across a football field will roll their eyes a few times but you don’t have to have been a band geek (like myself) to enjoy Drumline. The other possible opening had something to do with the words…

This one time, at band camp, we opened a movie to see Freshman snare drum player Devon being given a full ride scholarship to A&T University to play in the band. First of all, the concept of a DRUMMER being given anything more than a ride on the bus to an away game was enough to put this on my “What Were They Thinking” (WWTT) but I will let it go. As my old high school band director Ken Kamp used to say, “Drummers, when I’m taking to the musicians, you guys just pretend.” But I digress. Back to band camp.

Devon (Nick Cannon, MIIB) has a chip on his shoulder for probably a dozen reasons and wants to be the top dog in his new band. The only thing in his way are the upperclassmen, especially the Drumline section leader Sean (30 year old Leonard Roberts from Joe and Max) who figures out early that Devon can’t read music. WWTT flag number two: this kid is THAT good and never had to read music in High School band? Nope. Not the case. But he’s a good player so he will be cut some temporary slack because the director of the band (Orlando Jones from Evolution) Dr. Aaron Lee needs to win the BET band competition this year or lose his job.

Since this is a teen movie, you can add that Upper classman vs. Lower classman strife that you’ve seen in dozens of teen movies. Add a little of “My-boss-is-making-my-life-miserable-so-I’m-taking-it-out-on-you” and you’ve got the whole thing.

The production values are good and they were judicious enough with the editing so it wasn’t painfully obvious that the band’s lines were not always straight and the mechanical perfection that the leaders demand was not to be found. I did like the sound of the bands, though. And attention MTV Movie Award planners: when it comes to the Best Kiss category, you need to give Cannon and Zoe Saldana (Crossroads) some consideration for an amazing first kiss lip lock at a fraternity party.

I give Drumline a positive rating - it’s fun, the music is good, and there is a feel good message at the end.

Hank Yuloff is a proud alumnus of San Diego State where he was a member of the Marching Aztecs, the best band west of the 5 Freeway… Or something like that.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com