Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Shad Moss | ... | Xavier 'X' (as Bow Wow) | |
Brandon T. Jackson | ... | Junior | |
Chi McBride | ... | Curtis Smith | |
Marcus T. Paulk | ... | Boo | |
Rick Gonzalez | ... | Naps | |
Khleo Thomas | ... | Mixed Mike | |
Busisiwe Irvin | ... | Sonya | |
Jurnee Smollett | ... | Tori | |
Kellita Smith | ... | Vivian | |
Mike Epps | ... | Byron | |
Charlie Murphy | ... | Victor | |
Meagan Good | ... | Naomi Phillips | |
Nick Cannon | ... | Bernard | |
Wesley Jonathan | ... | Sweetness | |
Paul Wesley | ... | Troy |
1970s roller-skate jams fuel this coming-of-age comedy, as X and his friends, who rule their local rink, are shocked when their home base goes out of business. Heading over to the Sweetwater Roller Rink, they find their modest talents are, at first, no competition for their trick skaters and pretty girls who follow their every move. Written by IMDb Editors
This weekend, we saw a movie that effortlessly combines '70s nostalgia, social and family drama, athleticism and some really fine performances into one gem of a movie -- "Roll Bounce," a very sweet coming-of-age movie about semi-urban teens in the age of roller disco. I'm not kidding -- this movie doesn't hit a single wrong note. The fashions, the phrases, the world depicted are perfect late '70s. The acting is spot-on, and features one of the most real father- son relationships I've ever seen on film. Chi McBride, as the father, brings a quiet but heavy dignity to the role, and his interaction with Bow Wow is just real. No clichés, no nonsense. That makes it all sound heavy when in fact it's beautiful -- and the movie is very very funny, not afraid to play up the silliest sides of the '70s soul and disco scenes with some characters that would have been at home in the heyday of Parliament, an outlandish appearance by Wayne Brady (and a lesser one by DMC, or, as my kids now know, "D's for never Dirty, MC's for Mostly Clean."). Plus, a couple of scenes with Charlie Murphy that were happily expanded in the "gag reel," which is the only part of the disc really not suitable for children. Let me put it this way -- it's been a LONG time since I watched a movie two nights in a row.