While it's neither as socially urgent as Freedom Writers nor as danceable and soapy as Stomp the Yard, it's better acted and tougher to resist.
Comment
03/23/07
Pride (2007)
46
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:104
Fresh:48
Rotten:56
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Pride features a typically stellar performance from Terrence Howard, but ultimately falls victim to its over usage of sports movie clichés.
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Based on true events, Lionsgate's PRIDE tells the inspiring story of Jim Ellis, a charismatic schoolteacher in the 1970s who changed lives forever when he founded an African-American swim team in... [More]
Starring: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Kimberly Elise, Tom Arnold
Director: Sunu Gonera
Reviews for Pride
Terrence Howard is a rare and phenomenally gifted actor with the ability to dip into a seemingly endless well of raw emotion.
03/23/07
"Pride" is just another in a long list of true-life inspirational sports movies that offers absolutely nothing new, borrowing every maudlin cliché from "Brain's Song" to "Remember the Titans."
03/23/07
...fine performances from Howard and Mac, as well as Kimberly Elise as a dubious councilwoman they gradually win over, save the day.
03/23/07
I've come to realize that while I enter every sports movie with a great amount of disdain, I always come out feeling inspired. So it's time I grudgingly admit that I'm a sucker for this genre.
03/23/07
What Gonera does well is to invest the film and its characters with Ellis' bywords--pride, determination and resilience.
03/23/07
Despite the more than familiar setup, the film works because Howard goes beyond the typical “perfect mentor here to save the day” and makes Jim come across as real person.
03/23/07
[T]here's not a single thing original or surprising here, except how sincerely touching Pride ends up being anyway.
03/23/07
When sinewy young idealists glide through water to the tune of 'I'll Take You There,' the heart still leaps.
03/23/07
Top CriticIf anything stands out in this relatively routine take on an old sports standby, it's Terrence Howard.
03/22/07
First-time director Sunu Gonera and his battalion of screenwriters have a beginner's flair for ruining nice moments with sickly-sweet excess.
03/22/07
Maybe this really happened, but Gonera lacks the skill to make it seem real within the context of a fictional movie.
03/22/07
Terrence Howard makes every one around him in every scene a little bit better (even Tom Arnold!).
03/22/07
It's a testament to the performers that they can extract some fluid of suspense out of the rampant cliches spread out picnic-style in the final 20 minutes, and to Gonera's good fortune that he lucked into Terrence Howard.
03/22/07
An inspirational tale of a real-life underdog triumph hacked down into the familiar shape of a rousing Hollywood feel-good film...
03/22/07
Grab a real-life sports hero, whip up a few pointless catchphrases, and who cares if the rest is remotely good?
03/22/07
Pride has heart but not the soul it needs to be different.
03/22/07
Despite Mr. Howard's best efforts in the role, the film rarely realizes its subject's potential.
03/22/07
Howard hustles and flows and keeps the flick afloat, despite the heavy undertow of total predictability.
03/22/07
Howard is a commanding presence as usual, and glaring Bernie Mac acquits himself admirably in the die-cut role of the eccentric assistant coach.
03/22/07
Latest News for Pride
August 12, 2008:
Bernie Mac's 15 Roles to Remember 
Planning a Bernie Mac movie marathon this weekend? Entertainment Weekly has helpfully compiled a list of the comedian and actor's 15 most memorable roles. More...
March 20, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Madea Takes On Dr. Seuss
March Madness hits the North American box office as three new releases hit the multiplexes hoping to take down the reigning Dr. Suess toon. More...
April 28, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review
More...
March 26, 2007:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Ninja Turtles Unseat Spartans For #1 Spot
A crowded box office saw six new films shove their way into the multiplexes this weekend, but it was the Warner Bros. animated film "TMNT" that led the way knocking... More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds