Nobody Said Joining the Navy was Easy!
Updated: 5 days ago
America's "250 Years…250 Movies"
In honour of our country's 250th birthday, I'm reviewing 250 of their amazing flicks! Keep on the lookout, patriots!
Right up there with being a firefighter or police officer, joining the Navy is up there as one of the most prevalent American Dreams for young men- why wouldn’t they want to be a badass with an exciting life? Of course, as the aftermath of such disasters as Pearl Harbor show, it’s not exactly fun and games- if anything, war is hell. But what happens when your typical red-blooded, all-American boy attempts to join despite warnings saying otherwise? Well, as Annapolis shows, it’s every bit as intense as it sounds.
The film follows Jake (James Franco) a young man from a rural, lower-middle class family who, after hearing extraordinary stories of men who served, aspires to attend the Naval Academy, While the training process isn’t easy for him, he’s shown to be tough and competent enough to handle whatever throws his way. That is, at least, until his actions lead him to a boxing duel with some other, more competent young man who has been at it longer than he has, and it shows. Will he hold his own and prove himself worthy of the Navy? (No spoilers here: watch the film for yourself to see how it turns out.)
Is it any good? Well, for one thing, it’s very action-packed, what with being a film about the Navy. For all its stylized antics, however, it doesn’t exactly shy away from the harsh realism of the recruitment process- the protagonist faces clear hurdles while trying to follow his dream, as anyone signing up for the Navy would (obviously) do in real life. Granted, the writers may have taken a few liberties with the Navy recruitment process here and there- but then again, that’s Hollywood for you. As for the protagonist’s acting, James Franco does a great job as the down-to-earth young man who wants nothing more than to serve his country, against all odds- and, given how underwhelming his life is back home in the sticks, you can’t really blame him. It’s enough to make it all believable.
Bottom line: if you enjoy action films, films about the Navy, or especially action films about the Navy, this is for you. 3 ½ stars out of 5.
Jennifer Rose is an autistic author, novelist, and film critic. Her work explores identity, imagination, and what it means to think differently in a world that wasn't built with her in mind. In her novel Manimal Crackers, she draws on her own experience to tell a story about impulsivity, mentorship, and finding your footing. Her first book, It's Not a Perfect World, But I'll Take It (Skyhorse Publishing), is a memoir told in fifty life lessons about growing up autistic. She is now developing a literary magazine, Autonomy, for autistic writers and readers.
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