Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana, Anson Mount, Taryn Manning, Kim Cattrall
Director: Tamra Davis
CROSSROADS is of course singer Britney Spears first starring role in a feature film and because of Britney’s fame and the fact that the popular press, in particular the scandal sheets, love to knock holes in anyone who is successful, the movie itself will almost never receive a fair review.
CROSSROADS is a story about relationships. It’s about the relationship between Lucy (Britney Spears) and her father (Dan Aykroyd), a single parent who only wants the best for his daughter and whose determination and anxiety over being a good parent can at times be a little overpowering.
It’s also about the relationship between three friends, Lucy, Kit (Zoe Saldana) and Mimi (Taryn Manning) who’s friendship as young girls has fallen apart during their high school years only to be reunited when they are about to leave school and go to college.
For a variety of reasons the three ex-friends decide to travel together to Los Angeles, getting a ride with Ben (Anson Mount), a young man they hardly know. Lucy wants to visit her estranged mother (Kim Cattrall), Kit wants to be with her fiance and Mimi wants to enter a talent contest and become a singer.
Things don’t go quite as planned and along the way a bond between the four develops, and yes you guessed it Britney’s character gets the chance to sing. The film itself is a true ‘road movie’. There is no underlying plot or moments of tension to make you leap out of your seat. It’s not a comedy either although it is humorous in places and will make you smile. Really the movie is a chance to see Britney on the big screen in the role of a character rather than singing on a glossy pop video.
We also get to decide if Britney can act. Can she assume the role of another person for an hour and a half and make you believe it? Yes I’m pleased to say she can. In fact she does a very good job of it. It’s even rather amazing that not only is she a truly professional singer but given the right movies she will be a very worthy actress in the years to come. How can someone be so gorgeous and talented?
Most people will go and see CROSSROADS out of curiosity. Britney’s fans will be impressed with her and rightly so. All us guys will be pleased to see her in her underwear. The popular press will make up some suitably (or not) trashy headlines, so all in all everyone wins here – especially Britney who has just set herself up for a promising movie career. Let’s just hope she keeps making records as well.
