
ATL (2006, DVD)

ATL is an American movie that was released on March 31, 2006. The cast includes rapper Clifford "T.I." Harris, Lauren London, Antwan Andre Patton (also known as Big Boi of OutKast), Evan Ross, Mykelti Williamson, Jason Weaver, and Keith David. In its opening weekend, the film grossed a total of $12.55 million, ranking third in the United States box office, and went on to gross $23.3 million in the US. It was released there on DVD on July 18, 2006.
The film was directed by Chris Robinson, with a screenplay by Tina Gordon Chism from a story by Antwone Fisher.
The plot focuses on four friends preparing for life after high school, and how different challenges bring about turning points in each of their lives.
T.I. has reported in making a sequel to the film around Spring 2007 and will shortly thereafter release his fifth studio album, T.I. vs. T.I.P
The most refreshing part of ATL is that each of these kids are good kids. Unfortunately, they are good kids in a bad movie. Director Chris Robinson and writer Tina Gordon Chism don't give ATL direction or a consistent tone, so you feel like ATL too suddenly is bouncing between comedy, drama and love story, instead of meshing all three into a cohesive story. At times, the movie is a buddy comedy with 4 good kids in the middle of typical high school antics. At other times, it can be a dangerous film about the thug life as Ant starts to be blinded by the bling and gets involved in illegal activity.
It will be no surprise to anyone who sees ATL that Robinson is a well-known and successful music video director, especially after you have to sit through scene after painful and annoying scene straight from the music video playbook. Robinson mucks up ATL with too many slow motion shots of girls' booties shaking back and forth as they walk towards the guys, and too many musical interludes lacking dialogue as they strive for style over substance. If they added some meaning and context to the movie, that would be great, but they are for show. One or two might have worked just fine, but this many feels like unnecessary filler. Then, we have to deal with an inconsistent cast. T.I. is not the best actor out there. He's not even in the top 60%. I give it a 3 out of 10 Ultimately, "ATL" is the same old teenager angst in a mildly novel package. As in the pastime it depicts, the outfits on the players may be flashy, but they're still just going around in circles.
Review ID: 10000000002376765

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