Annapolis (2006)

10% of critics liked it
(111 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(117,105 ratings)

A poor but ambitious young man strives to make good in one of the most competitive institutions on Earth in this military drama. Jake Huard (James Franco) is a young man from a small Maryland town who grew up in a blue-collar family with few opportunities. Wanting to make something of himself after… More A poor but ambitious young man strives to make good in one of the most competitive institutions on Earth in this military drama. Jake Huard (James Franco) is a young man from a small Maryland town who grew up in a blue-collar family with few opportunities. Wanting to make something of himself after completing high school, Jake set his sights on attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he narrowly makes the cut and becomes one of the 1,200 applicants selected for the freshman class. Jake finds that life as a "plebe" is intellectually challenging and physically punishing, and he soon develops a powerful adversary in Midshipman Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson), his training commander, who pushes Jake to the limit to see if he has what it takes. Standing on the razor's edge of failing as both a student and a soldier, Jake makes a brave but dangerous gesture toward proving himself by entering the Brigade Championships, a Naval boxing competition where he'll go into the ring against the best fighters in the Navy -- including Lt. Cole. Jake soon has one person on his side when he strikes up a friendship with Ali (Jordana Brewster), a pretty young officer who believes Jake has what it takes to go the distance. Annapolis also stars Donnie Wahlberg, Chi McBride, and Vicellous Shannon; the film was directed by Justin Lin, who debuted with the acclaimed independent feature Better Luck Tomorrow. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Justin Lin
Written By: Dave Collard
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 27, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jun 27, 2006
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice
Jake [is] forced to swallow his pride and ask girly Brewster to train him. It's a marginally subversive moment in a movie that otherwise falls in line.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
This isn't as much a movie as it is a recipe for a cinematic casserole in which the ingredients are clichés and rip-offs.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Annapolis is less like a movie than a virus -- one that clings so tenaciously to its host genre that it begins to take on the characteristics of a real movie, even though it's just faking.
Brian Lowry, Variety
Judging Annapolis by its most appealing attributes (among all the cliches): It's not bad superficially, but neither is it all that it could be.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
The movie plays out with the same martial drumbeat inevitability of a parade march.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
While Officer is an almost-great movie, Annapolis, watered down and one degree further from inspiration, is merely an almost-good movie.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
Annapolis has the seeds of a good, if derivative, film in it, but gives that up in favor of being a mediocre boxing film.
Paul Chambers, CNNRadio
This military drama never gets moving. Just mainly posturing by all sides concerned. The screenplay was definitely missing in action. Paul Chambers, CNN.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Character development and narrative substance are absent in this wispy movie about beefcake and getting a knack for teamwork in an oppressive atmosphere.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
A naval cadet becomes a man in this unoriginal drama.
Christopher Campbell, Cinematical
What Annapolis really is, more than a college movie or a boot-camp movie, is a boxing movie, and a run of the mill one at that.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Annapolis isn't a bad movie, but it's certainly a derivative, run-of-the-mill one.
Brian Tallerico, UGO
Annapolis throws the same punches as many of its inspirational fellow cadets and almost, but not quite, wins the fight.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
...basically a military-recruitment commercial.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
full review in Greek
Lisa Ann Cockrel, Christianity Today
It's difficult to find anything to praise about Annapolis.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
If you like cliches, you'll love Annapolis.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
The innumerable "saw it coming" plot contrivances begin to stack up like so much cinematic cord wood.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...it's not just Franco's character who is one-dimensional; it's everyone in the movie.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...if you haven't seen many other military movies or sports movies or underdog movies, Annapolis may not be as mundane for you as it was for me.

Read all 22 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Rachel F

James Franco is just lovely. It has a good storyline too.
Dean M

This film is a bit familiar to <i>An Officer and a Gentleman</i>, but except the boxing. Really great tale of courage and honour, even what I thought of James Franco is alike Richard Gere and Tyrese Gibson is alike Lou Gossett Jr in their characters.
Todd S

Even thou he was in several things before Annapolis, I consider this to be James Franco's breakthrough role. Just the training and studying alone, must have been as intense as the film itself. Franco plays Jake Huard, a first year student at the Naval academy. The story takes you… More
Even thou he was in several things before Annapolis, I consider this to be James Franco's breakthrough role. Just the training and studying alone, must have been as intense as the film itself. Franco plays Jake Huard, a first year student at the Naval academy. The story takes you inside one the hardest and most secretive schools in America, showing you just what it takes to even make it past your first year. The story itself is very inspirational and the acting is top notch. This isn't just a good film, it's one that you know took a lot out of everyone involved. I was entertained, excited, and inspired by an underdog who just wouldn't give up. This is a tremendous film that fell under the radar, because of a then, unknown cast, but it really is a must see for fans of inspirational, military and sports dramas.
Fascade F

Good solid all around performances...Shows the anguish of how hard it is to get into a Naval academy and prove yourself...Great boxing scenes.
Mike T

It's as bad as everyone says it is. James Franco does as much as he possibly can with a toilet paper screenplay.
Yinalí R

Liked it, very sexy james franco.
Alice S

How should I call this movie? Inspiring? We just find out that anyone can get in the Naval Academy, regardless of his/hers physical skills... aren't you tempted to give it a try, now that you know it? Because I'm really interested ... it seems that students have a lot of… More
How should I call this movie? Inspiring? We just find out that anyone can get in the Naval Academy, regardless of his/hers physical skills... aren't you tempted to give it a try, now that you know it? Because I'm really interested ... it seems that students have a lot of time at their disposal to spend in the company of a charming superior officer.
Nicky M

Been done before, been done better. Felt... lacking. James Franco does ok but could have had a better vehicle for his first starring role.
Moe E

Don't be duped into thinking this flick has anything to do with a young man's experiences as a midshipman at the US Naval Academy. In reality, it's a poorly written/directed boxing movie intended to give female viewers the opportunity to ogle James Franco and Tyrese… More
Don't be duped into thinking this flick has anything to do with a young man's experiences as a midshipman at the US Naval Academy. In reality, it's a poorly written/directed boxing movie intended to give female viewers the opportunity to ogle James Franco and Tyrese Gibson shirtless and sweaty. Jordana Brewster is thrown in as eye candy for us guys. Very lame...
Sarah P

Chalk this one up to another predictable bootcamp/academy movie, however it did provide an excellent quote: "People from Alabama love people from Mississippi because without them, they'd be the worst state in the country...You're my Mississippi."
Erin C

James Franco looks really good in uniform ;) It was a cute movie, but nothing special.