Annapolis on DVD

I went into viewing this movie with high expectations. There is nothing like a really good military movie to get your blood pumping. I figured Annapolis would be even better than the average military drama as I thought it was going to be about one of the toughest and most honored academies our country has to offer. Unfortunately, Annapolis never comes close to living up to those expectations.

While watching Annapolis, I could not help having an unnerving sense of déjà vu. I knew I had seen this movie before, and then it hit me, Annapolis is basically a remake of An Officer an a Gentleman. It is almost as if the screenwriters for Annapolis took the script from the old Richard Gere movie and wherever it mentioned Air Force pilot training, replaced it with Naval Academy officer training. This is no joke. They are basically the same movie.

The story centers on Jake Huard played by James Franco and his struggles with his father, life in general, and his time at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Oh yeah, there is also some boxing thrown in the mix. I think the boxing was supposed to be a metaphor for the struggle the Jake character goes through in life and at the Academy. Unfortunately, it misses completely, and comes across as kind of a cheesy Rocky knock off.

Once at the Academy Jake finds himself at odds with his commanding Officer Lt. Cole played by Tyrese Gibson. Lt. Cole feels Huard is not worth the Academy’s time and tries his best to get Huard to quit. Gibson, who is a charismatic actor, is completely unbelievable in this role and this was a poor casting choice. He is nothing more than a Louis Gossett Jr. clone from An Officer an a Gentleman. The character has no depth and is basically one dimensional.

Predictably Jake Huard learns he must trust others and accept help as he cannot do everything on his own. With the help of his roommate and from a potential love interest Ali (Jordana Brewster) who is also an instructor at the Academy and therefore forbidden fruit, Jake trains for the Brigades Boxing tournament which is the most anticipated event of the year.