Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack Blu-ray Review

Universal’s presentation of "Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" on Blu-ray delivers an exceptionally sharp and vibrant 1080p encode, utilizing the AVC codec. The imagery is bright and shiny with a polished digital sheen, providing super sharp clarity throughout. Colors are vividly saturated, bringing an impressive lifelike quality to the scenes. The pinks of the Rebels' uniforms contrast brilliantly against the whites and darks of the dance stages. Facial details are crisply defined, capturing even the minutest of skin textures, sweat droplets, and face paint lines.

Textural details are equally commendable, from the intricacy of graffiti in urban settings to the fine lines and bumps revealed in close-ups of skin textures. Black levels are deep and accurate, enhancing scenes where low light and dark clothing dominate, such as in The Truth videos. Although noise is subtly present, particularly in lower light scenes, it remains unobtrusive and significantly managed. Minor issues like banding and aliasing may exist for those scrutinizing every aspect, but these do not detract from the overall viewing experience.

Overall, this Blu-ray transfer maintains a dynamic and buoyant palette that immerses the viewer into the film's breezy, energetic world. With 1.78:1 framing and a meticulous contrast application, the image quality remains consistently high, rendering a pleasing visual experience that fans will appreciate.

The audio presentation of "Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" on Blu-Ray is notably robust and engaging. Benefiting from a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the mix delivers an impressively aggressive sound profile, especially evident during the cheerleaders' dynamic routines. The frequent bass-heavy hip-hop and rock tracks press the system hard, ensuring that subwoofers are effectively put through their paces. Sound clarity is impeccably maintained even during the most intense and musical sequences, highlighting an excellent balance in stage width and surround implementation.

While music undoubtedly dominates the audio landscape, environmental ambience is somewhat limited, with atmospheric effects often relegated to the front soundstage rather than enveloping the entire surround channels. Sound effects are present but fairly minimal, typically used to exaggerate falls during performance mishaps. Dialogue is exceptionally clear, consistently accurate, and naturally placed in the front center channel. This prioritization ensures that speech remains intelligible against the vibrant, bass-laden musical backdrop.

Overall, the presentation emphasizes a music-heavy experience designed to keep audiences actively engaged, while other sound elements support but do not overshadow the primary audio focus. The sound mix is professionally crafted, offering a quality auditory experience that underscores the energetic tone of the film.

The extras included in the Blu-ray release of "Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" offer an engaging, albeit brief, exploration of the film's production. The featurettes admirably highlight the global aspect of casting and choreographing cheer routines, led by the dedicated Choreographer Tony Gonzalez. There's a notable emphasis on the negative impact of social media on young athletes, which provides some underlying depth to the otherwise light-hearted material. Technical details are well-covered, including vivid discussions on production design, set aesthetics, and costume choices. While these extras add value, their short durations might leave viewers wanting more. The gag reel offers a lighter, entertaining glimpse behind the scenes.

Extras included in this disc:

• Around the World: Building the Squads: Discover how actors mastered escalating cheer routines with teams from South Africa and Brazil.
• A New Routine: Discusses what sets this film apart, focusing on social media's negative impacts.
• The Look of Bring It On: Worldwide: A dive into the set design and costumes' vibrant and unique flair.
• Gag Reel: Humorous moments from the shoot.

"Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" attempts to rejuvenate the longstanding franchise but largely falters in its execution. This sixth installment shifts focus from physical cheerleading prowess to social media clout, culminating in a cheesy narrative filled with cringe-worthy dialogue and over-the-top millennial jargon. Protagonist Destiny, played by Cristine Prosperi, leads her cheer squad to several victories until they are sabotaged by a masked gang called The Truth. From there, the film dives into formulaic territory: a fall from grace, an obligatory rift in the team, and a predictable path to redemption through an international cheer competition. The inclusion of social media elements—floating hashtags and visuals—is overwhelming and detracts more than it adds to the already thin narrative.

In terms of technical details, the film boasts energetic and physically impressive cheer routines created by Robert Adetuyi, but these are almost overshadowed by the uninspired plot and dialogue. The actors, notably Prosperi, Jordan Rodrigues, and Gia Lodge-O’Meally, do well with their given material, but their clearly adult appearances poorly disguise their supposed teenage roles. The final showdown features real international cheer squads, adding some authenticity, yet it's insufficient to save a film bogged down by cliché-ridden scriptwriting. Additionally, while the movie may be an attempt to reach a younger demographic fluent in 'Instagram-speak,' it ends up alienating older viewers who might struggle to keep up with the incessant hashtags and social media references.

While initially promising an insightful take on social media's influence on modern teenage culture, "Worldwide #Cheersmack" fails to leave a lasting impression. Its few moments of genuine heart and athletic choreography are obscured by predictable plot twists and excessive millennial pandering. Despite an underwhelming story, fans of the franchise might still find some fleeting enjoyment in the dance sequences and familiar themes of friendship and teamwork. For everyone else, this latest entry remains an exercise in patience interspersed with fleeting bursts of entertainment.

"Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack," the sixth installment in the popular cheerleading film series, attempts to merge contemporary social media elements with traditional high school drama and athletic cheer routines. While hashtags and online views are woven into the fabric of the plot, they unfortunately do little to uplift a narrative that feels overly predictable and clichéd. Despite this, the film does offer sporadic moments of enjoyment and features some noteworthy cheerleading performances that align with genre expectations. Additionally, while the themes of friendship, redemption, and adaptation are present, they fail to deliver any fresh perspective.

The Blu-ray release of "Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" offers technical strengths that will not disappoint audiovisual enthusiasts. The aspect ratio of 1.78:1 AVC provides clear and colorful visuals, while the audio is presented through English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, French, and Spanish DTS 5.1 options, ensuring an immersive experience. Supplementary features are minimal but satisfactory, reinforcing that the primary appeal of this release lies within its high-quality presentation.

In conclusion, while "Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack" may captivate diehard franchise fans with its athletic prowess and social media integration, it falls short in delivering a compelling and original narrative. The strong technical specifications and occasional entertaining sequences are overshadowed by a lackluster plot and stereotypical character interactions. Overall, it remains a forgettable entry in the DTV realm and is unlikely to appeal to a broader audience beyond its core fanbase.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: Cristine Prosperi, Vivica A. Fox, Jordan Rodrigues
• Directed by: Robert Adetuyi
• Written by: Alyson Fouse
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 AVC
• Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, French, Spanish DTS 5.1
• Studio: Universal
• Rated: PG-13
• Runtime: 95 Minutes
• Blu-ray Release Date: August 29th, 2017