2/5 Rather poor
  by Dave. K (Staten Island, Ny)
FIRED UP

** Out of 5

Release Date- February 20th, 2009

Running Time- 90-Minutes

Rating- PG-13

Screenplay- Freedom Jones

Director- Will Gluck

Starring- Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer, AnnaLynne McCord, David Walton with Molly Sims and Phillip Baker Hall

Fired Up is everything that is wrong with the teen comedy since the end of the 80s; the movie tries too hard and the comedy feels mostly forced and when all is said and done it just really wasn't very funny at all with the exception of a scene or two. Since the end of the John Hughes era the teen comedy has failed at almost every film released with the exception of some of the American Pie flicks and 10 Things I Hate About You; Fired up features all the flaws this genre has seen over the years.

The screenplay apparently was written by 4 different people, but in the end the name Freedom Jones is used. I really hope that isn't true since if it is the writers prove to be nothing more than hacks. The script attempts a lot of sex jokes, but people need to learn being a little racy (in a PG-13 way) isn't funny when it's forced. Writers seem to think a few sex jokes and you have enough to carry the movie. All these antics might be funny to a young teen or pre-teen, but even they'll probably be able to see through it all.

All the characters are the typical cardboard cut outs we've seen millions of times and we'll probably see a million more times. Nick played by Eric Christian Olsen is the more obnoxious one and Shawn played by Nicholas D'Agosto is the more sensitive one. That's something we've never seen before; Nick and Shawn get into the typical, but boring teenage antics and it truly is a bore. The screenplay fails at pretty much every aspect; weak characters and idiotic and unfunny moments.

The direction by Will Gluck is rather boring and uninspired and while Gluck does attempt to inject some life into the movie he never really manages to get anything going. The pacing is boring and the scenes lack any fun or excitement; the over the top scenes just come off as idiotic and a little too silly and Fired Up is just never really funny at all. In fairness, Will Gluck didn't have much of a screenplay to work with, but what little he has he never takes advantage of.

The performances are a little bit better and the leads Olsen & D'Agosto actually give fun and entertaining performances, but their talents are wasted with a terrible script. Olsen is really over the top, but it mostly works well. The two leads are about the only real positive aspect of the movie. Like I said the leads are entertaining; but aren't given anything to work with. Sarah Roemer as Carly also manages to deliver an entertaining performance, but is also wasted. The actors are about the only real positive part of the movie.

Fired Up has been often compared to Bring it On, but despite the marketing they aren't that much a like, but there is one funny scene and possibly the only funny scene when the characters are watching Bring it On. But again despite the marketing the two movies aren't as much a like as it was made to seem, but comparing this to Bring it On would be an insult since that movie was actually entertaining.

In the end Fired Up fails at pretty much every level, while the performances were good, the writing and direction sink this ship. Its cliché heaven and is never really funny at all.

4/5 I'm not a teenager but I love teen movies.
  by N. Britz
This one is a good one! I watched it on a plane and had to buy it so I could watch it properly. If you like 'Bring it on', this is a must-see.

4/5 REALLY FUNNY
  by Amery Stapleton
IT was funny, those to guy are really cute, but this is not a family movie

3/5 A typical teen comedy
  by Jim Gateley (Sunnyvale, CA)
3 of 5 stars for the teen comedy "Fired-Up". Two football jocks decide the best way to get girls is to ditch the summer football camp and join the school cheerleading squad for their summer camp. You got two straight guys in a camp full of teen girls. You can guess the rest of the movie. Add in the evil cheerleaders "The Panthers", a foul-mouthed football coach, Molly SIms as a foxy camp instructor and you got it.

A good basic comedy movie. Nothing special in the plot, characters, action or filming. The DVD has the usual behind-the-scenes stuff. Easy on the brain, easy to watch.

4/5 I am fired up about this movie
  by Paul Henriksen
I was not expecting a lot when I rented this movie, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a light and very funny comedy and I highly recommend it for a fun hour and a half.