UnderClassMan Review

Entertainment: Reviews Article | Reuters.com

By Sheri Linden

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Nick Cannon, playing an L.A. cop who goes undercover as a prep school student, provides the few sparks this wan action-comedy can muster.

Scripters David T. Wagner and Brent Goldberg of the dumb "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" and the smart "The Girl Next Door" concoct an implausible, anemic romp in "Underclassman," which might initially entice matriculating crowds before it gets left back.

"Underclassman" would have been music-video director Marcos Siega's feature debut, but when Miramax, in the throes of its end-of-an-era onrush of releases, pushed it back from an early August date, his "Pretty Persuasion" hit theaters first. Through the prism of high school, both films explore -- or at least look at -- moral corruption in Los Angeles' affluent Westside. But where "Persuasion" is a nasty pit bull of an intended satire, "Underclassman" is a goofy puppy that just wants to be loved -- and knows only how to make an unimaginative mess.

Cannon stars as Tracy "Tre" Stokes, a baby-faced bike cop who longs to be a detective like his deceased dad (the family-tradition angle is pounded home, to little effect). His undercover efforts all backfire, to the endless irritation of Capt. Victor Delgado (Cheech Marin), who was just as frustrated with Stokes senior's "all passion, no procedure" approach to policing. The case of a murdered high school student gives Tre a chance to prove himself: He's enlisted to enroll at the kid's ultra-exclusive school and infiltrate the campus movers and shakers.

Something is indeed rotten at the tony Westbury School -- beyond the fact that the students drive Hummers and play rugby. The murdered boy was the school paper's investigative reporter and hot on the trails of a gang of car thieves. As the film limps out the usual cliches to chart Tre's supposedly side-splitting culture clash with wealthy white classmates, he zeros in on campus hotshot Rob Donovan (Shawn Ashmore, of the "X-Men" franchise), who warms to Tre after the newcomer saves his butt on the basketball court.

Detectives Brooks (Lisa Hu) and Gallecki (Ian Gomez) provide hapless support (and, in the latter case, unfortunate bathroom humor) while Tre uncovers the campus' deadly, ridiculous secret. There's also time for romance for the reluctant student, whose pretty Spanish teacher (Roselyn Sanchez) inspires and encourages him -- to put the moves on her. One can only assume she has a way of knowing that he's not really 16.

Cannon ("Drumline") helped to develop the story and serves as an executive producer, but the film feels less like a showcase for the affable performer than a waste of his talents, not to mention those of the rest of the cast. The Vancouver/Los Angeles-shot production has a polished but generic SoCal look, with all tech contributions serviceable.

Cast: Tracy "Tre" Stokes: Nick Cannon; Rob Donovan: Shawn Ashmore; Karen Lopez: Roselyn Sanchez; Lisa Brooks: Kelly Hu; Detective Gallecki: Ian Gomez; Headmaster Powers: Hugh Bonneville; Captain Victor Delgado: Cheech Marin; David Boscoe: Angelo Spizzirri; Alexander: Johnny K. Lewis.

Director: Marcos Siega; Screenwriters: David T. Wagner, Brent Goldberg; Story by: David T. Wagner, Brent Goldberg, Nick Cannon; Producers: Peter Abrams, Robert Levy, Andrew Panay; Executive producers: Nick Cannon, Michael Goldman, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Osher, James Dyer; Director of photography: David Hennings; Production designer: Gary Frutkoff; Music: BT; Co-executive producer: Doug Johnson; Costume designer: Tish Monaghan; Editor: Nicholas C. Smith.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter