The plot plays out as predictably as anyone might expect, but the fine details keep Pride squarely above average.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 5, 2007

Pride's story was etched in stone ages ago by mysterious movie powers beyond our understanding, and all the Staples Singers' songs in the world won't keep it from its appointed rounds.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 31, 2007

Director Sunu Gonera does a nice job with the swim meet scenes, and the cast of mostly unknown younger actors is extremely likable.

Full Review | Mar 26, 2007

Not so much formulaic as elemental, this campy, would-be-inspirational jock weepy scrapes the barrel for life-lesson-imparting sports to exploit.

| Original Score: 2/6 | Mar 24, 2007

Pride is a fairly predictable entry in the highly predictable inspirational sports drama genre. But the movie is saved by the earnest, believable performance of Terrence Howard and by Bernie Mac in a more serious role than usual.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 23, 2007

It really has nothing to be proud of but a central performance much better than the movie itself deserves. It's time for Terrence Howard to appear in a movie that rises to his level.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Terrence Howard's unforced charisma did a lot for Crash and Hustle & Flow, and he's the chief reason Pride is worth catching.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 23, 2007

That Pride ultimately gets to you is more of a surprise than the outcome because it's not very well-constructed.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

A generic against-the-odds underdog sports drama.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

It is a testament to the robotic constraints of Pride that even Terrence Howard sinks in the service of formula.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Howard's character declares that "the world isn't black and white." The world, no, but the movie, yes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

There is not a single moment in Sunu Gonera's Pride that you haven't already seen, or that you can't predict.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Pride does its subject matter proud.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Pride wades into the shallows when it ought to be diving into the deep end. In waters this familiar, everyone knows how to swim.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Mar 23, 2007

There's no excuse for Pride's mediocrity -- not with this story, not with this cast.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

The trouble with Pride is that it sticks so close to the sports-movie playbook that it never comes alive.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

It's more of a public service announcement than a movie. As such, it may do some good. But imagine what a truly great film with the same social conscience might accomplish.

| Original Score: C | Mar 23, 2007

Competitive swimming has certainly not been overdone in sports movies, and the less-than-compelling Pride might offer the reason why.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Pride has a sly, sexy way of overcoming inherent filmmaking clichs and winning over its audience.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 23, 2007

Pride is a lovingly-presented homage to the heroism of Jim Ellis' life and his life's work.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 23, 2007