Don't get me wrong. I liked both films, just don't think they make that good of combination, particularly if neither of the plotlines is that well developed.

Story in brief: Jason Huard (James Franco) made a promise to his Mom before she died that he'd go to Annapolis. He didn't quite fit in, but persistence pays off--particularly if you ask your Congressman 34 times for a recommendation.

Once he gets into Annapolis, it seems the one thing Huard has going for him is his ability to box. Whether that will keep him in the school remains to be seen.

If you liked "Rocky" and "Officer", you might like this film, but there's neither enough boxing or military training and discipline in the story to make it truly stand out.

Rebecca Kyle, January 2009

I can't believe this movie is only getting 3 stars. It is a great flic. I'm not going to tell you why. Just watch it. Either you get it, or you don't.

I will say this: best scene in the movie is at the end when the Dad gives the kid a nod of approval. That's all he ever wanted!

This movie had strong acting (with great actors and actresses), the plot could have been more interesting, and the ending was sub-par. This movie is worth watching, but not paying $20.00 for a DVD.

It is always an interesting thing when one starts watching a movie and expects it to be about a certain subject and then the movie shifts half-way to an entirely tangential subject. From Dusk till Dawn is the epitome of this effect. But whereas it was deliberate in that movie since Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez each contributed to half the script, you can tell Annapolis does this more because the writer or director lost the narrative thread half-way in.

The movie starts out like the flick Rudy, with James Franco playing a blue collar kid who - instead of a steel mill - works in a shipyard and who - instead of Notre Dame - wishes he could attend Annapolis. Unlike Rudy though, Annapolis delves only skin deep into his passion to attend the naval academy and sidesteps the cumbersome process of explaining how hard it was for an average kid with average grades to get in to one of the best military and educational training programs in the US. The first half of the movie progresses with more of the same about how hard it is for a blue collar kid to "make it" when he is thrust into the ring with elites.

The movie shifts about half-way when - for reasons that are largely unsupported - Franco's character decides to focus all his angst on a boxing match with his commanding officer Cole, played by Tyrese Gibson channeling Louis Gossett Jr. from An Officer and a Gentleman. This is where the movie moves from "oh my life is so tough being from the wrong side of the tracks" to - basically - Rocky.

I debated giving this movie two stars, but in the end it isn't atrocious. It is watchable and I didn't turn it off, which I have with other movies. It skirted the line, but it is an ok movie to spend time with if there's nothing else available.

I really liked this movie , the best part of the movie was the boxing scene I thought the boxing scene looked very professional . Great movie recommend to everyone.