"ATL" (Warner Brothers)
A Film Focusing On the Positive
“ATL” is the story of four friends going to high school in Atlanta. It is a positive film that emphasizes family and friendship, and for that reason alone is worth seeing. Tip T. I. Harris is the star of the film and he handles his lead role credibly. If you like good movies that don’t focus on the downside of modern life then you will like this movie.
Rashad (Harris) and his younger brother Anton (Evan Ross) live with their Uncle George (Mykelti Williamson) in Mechanicsville, a suburb of Atlanta. Their parents were killed in an automobile accident. Rashad is very protective of Anton, but the young man is strong willed and soon gets into trouble.
Rashad and his three best friends skate at the “Cascade,” a roller rink where everybody hangs out. This includes New-New (Lauren London), a young girl who catches Rashad’s eye. She seems to like him too but there is more to New New than she reveals.
The ups and downs of everyday life are studied in this movie, and most are handled through friendship and/or family. The power of both types of relationships is offered here. And of course there is the romantic type of relationship too.
Harris is very good as Rashad though he looks about five years too old to be a senior in high school. The find in the movie however is Ross, Diana’s son. He is excellent as Anton and shows real talent as an actor. This movie should start him on the way to a solid career.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and some violence.
Too many times movies which feature a predominately black cast are full of drug dealers and other criminal elements. This movie is just about average people trying to make their way in the world today. It is entertaining and enjoyable. It is not outstanding except in its normalcy, and for most audiences this should be enough.
You can spend a pleasant two hours hanging out in the “ATL,” especially if you have Georgia on your mind.
I scored “ATL” a southern 6 out of 10.
