ATL (2006)

63% of critics liked it
(86 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(113,780 ratings)

A tightly knit group of working-class Atlanta teens spend their time bonding over hip-hop and roller skating while pondering life after high school in director Chris Robinson's coming-of-age comedy drama that draws inspirations from the real-life childhoods of Dallas Austin and Tionne Watkins. For a… More A tightly knit group of working-class Atlanta teens spend their time bonding over hip-hop and roller skating while pondering life after high school in director Chris Robinson's coming-of-age comedy drama that draws inspirations from the real-life childhoods of Dallas Austin and Tionne Watkins. For a kid growing up on the south side of Atlanta, the Cascade roller-skating rink is the place to be seen, and it's the place where the orphaned high school senior Rashad (Tip Harris) and his little brother Ant (Evan Ross) go every weekend to forget their financial troubles, hang with their friends and get their groove on. But outside the rink, the brothers have problems they can't avoid: Ant is being recruited into the posse of charismatic drug dealer Marcus (Outkast's Antwan Andre Patton, aka Big Boi). Meanwhile, Rashad's three best friends -- including the ambitious Esquire (Jackie Long) -- are pulling him in different directions, and his new girlfriend New-New (Lauren London) may not be as "street" as she seems. As Rashad tries to hold on to his little brother, he also comes to the realization that if he's ever going to make something of himself, he's going to have to step out of his skates and into the real world. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Chris Robinson (IV), Chris Robinson
Written By: Tina Gordon Chism
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 31, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jul 18, 2006
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Too predictable.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
It's something akin to the earlier films of Spike Lee -- She's Gotta Have It and Crooklyn come to mind -- in that the characters are cherished for their human qualities, not for how well they swagger onto the screen.
Justin Chang, Variety
Warner Bros.' low-budget stab at capturing an urban niche audience is higher on stylistic dazzle than originality or coherence, making it an unlikely candidate to bust out of the box office ghetto.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
The film's special appeal is that while the boys are poor and black, their stories transcend race and socio-economic matters.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Making his feature-film debut, music-video director Chris Robinson expertly choreographs the skating sequences, which are exhilarating fun.
Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Really, ATL -- like last year's Roll Bounce -- is about roller skating.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Amateur camera work and conspicuous plotting reduce the film's regional sensibilities to sleep-inducing pap.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Morally grounded kids in the hood come of age.
Kam Williams, AALBC.com
A tip of the cap to Tip Harris and Lauren London for it is their chemistry and charm which allows one to believe in their tenderhearted romance in an atmosphere where women are regarded as objects and affectionately called 'bitches' and 'hos.'
Kam Williams, EURWeb
Be forewarned that despite this critic's stamp of approval, this flick does trade in misogyny, profanity, the N-word, violence and drug use. Notexactly appropriate for impressionable young minds, despite the kid-friendly PG-13 rating.
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel, 3BlackChicks Review
Put ATL in our collection ASAP and PDQ.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Not exactly something that can boiled down to an easy sell, but then that's also part of its appeal and charm.
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic
A well-meaning and good-hearted urban melodrama -- that doesn't really seem to have anything new to say.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I really can't say there is all that much to the banal plot or stereotyped characters that we haven't seen before and better. (HD-DVD and DVD Combo Format)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I liked ATL for its music and for its all-around good intentions and general amiability. But....
Todd Jorgenson, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
A contradictory approach ultimately muddles the film despite some heartfelt and evocative moments about youngsters growing up on the streets of Atlanta.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
The film that proves that all life's problems can be solved with a montage.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
... a surprisingly strong coming-of-age movie with a great young cast. It pops with color and humor and pays attention to the details that situate it in a real location ...
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Director Chris Robinson maintains a light touch, giving the colorful, energetic skating scenes the benefit of his music-video roots, but he doesn't neglect character, drawing sincere performances from his young cast.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
A light urban coming-of-age dramedy where the veneer may be darkly intriguing, but the finish is pure homily, of the sort where lessons are learned and dreams do come true.

Read all 25 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

A New American Story The movie was good and it had it's good moments. The story is not that great but decent enough. The acting was so-so from everyone, still entertaining and it pass really quickly. The attitudes, style and environment puts you right on the streets down south… More
A New American Story The movie was good and it had it's good moments. The story is not that great but decent enough. The acting was so-so from everyone, still entertaining and it pass really quickly. The attitudes, style and environment puts you right on the streets down south and that's why it was good. A tightly knit group of working-class Atlanta teens spend their time bonding over hip-hop and roller skating while pondering life after high school in director Chris Robinson's coming-of-age comedy drama that draws inspirations from the real-life childhoods of Dallas Austin and Tionne Watkins. For a kid growing up on the south side of Atlanta, the Cascade roller-skating rink is the place to be seen, and it's the place where the orphaned high school senior Rashad (Tip Harris) and his little brother Ant (Evan Ross) go every weekend to forget their financial troubles, hang with their friends and get their groove on. But outside the rink, the brothers have problems they can't avoid: Ant is being recruited into the posse of charismatic drug dealer Marcus (Outkast's Antwan Andre Patton, aka Big Boi). Meanwhile, Rashad's three best friends -- including the ambitious Esquire (Jackie Long) -- are pulling him in different directions, and his new girlfriend New-New (Lauren London) may not be as "street" as she seems. As Rashad tries to hold on to his little brother, he also comes to the realization that if he's ever going to make something of himself, he's going to have to step out of his skates and into the real world.
Bobby H

The movie is okay, as it tells the story of life through the eyes of some ATL hood residents. It's entertaining to see the differences between neighborhoods, and follow the life of the people in the movie - but the movie seemed to forget a moral? You can make up your own, but… More
The movie is okay, as it tells the story of life through the eyes of some ATL hood residents. It's entertaining to see the differences between neighborhoods, and follow the life of the people in the movie - but the movie seemed to forget a moral? You can make up your own, but there really was just no major point in it. It started strong, then kept going and going until an end where it ended up just the same as the beginning? Maybe, "Apperciate what you have, it could be all you ever will have". Fun to watch, but obvious loss potential makes you wonder what it could of been.
Lenny M

I didn't know rollerskating had such a big influence on Atlanta. TI shows great potential, Big Boi puts on the best performance.
EightThirty .

Its All Good ^_^
Fascade F

A pretty good story about a guy trying to get his life and opriorities straight while his brother tried to get back int the life he is trying to get out of...
Erin C

I thought it was a decent movie that didn't strictly focus on the drug aspect. They had the roller skating, which was interesting, and the script didn't have a lot of cussing, which was a nice change.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Tip 'T.I.' Harris as Rashad

            Lauren London as New New

            Lonette McKee as Priscilla Garnett

            Antwan Andre Patton as Marcus

            Evan Ross Naess as Ant

            Keith David as John Garnett

            Jackie Long as Esquire

            Albert Daniels as Brooklyn

            Jason Weaver as Teddy

            Khadijah Haqq as Veda

            Malika Haqq as Star

            Tyree Simmons as DJ Drama

            Mykelti Williamson as Uncle George

            Khadijah as Veda

            Ric Reitz as Mr. Sapp

            Tasha Smith as Gayle

            Monica as Waffle House Waitress

            Cameron Gipp as Famous Customer

            Lauren Leah Mitchell as Janice Rawlings

            Jorge Luis Abreu as Doctor

            Bart Hansard as Deputy

            Jae Blaze as Thug

            Greg Andrews as Jay

            Brandon Bernard Benton as Student in Classroom

            Adam Boyer as Bartender

            April Clark as Tondie

            Steven R. Ewing as Fireman

            Alvin Lee Fleming as Skateman

            Wayne Hardnett as Bone Crusher

            Monique Harris as Sexy Woman

            Tae Heckard as Tonya

            Nick Hudani as Mr. Sartoni

            Marie McAdoo as Fat Girl

            Markice Moore as Austin

            Margo Moorer as Ms. Jackson

            Roderick Mosley as Drug Customer

            Zoe Myers as Preppy Female

            Ayesha Ngaujah as Counter Girl

            Jameelah Nuriddin as Young Girl

            Gregory Oliver as Cascade Security Guard

            Vanessa Petrosky as Holly

            Jazze Pha as DJ

            Ashley Ragland as Teenage Girl

            Deon Ramone as Big Ronnie

            Christopher Ray Robinson II as Ant's Friend

            Onira Satterwhite as Sexy Young Girl

            Almario Thomas as Dante

            Laparee Young as Pastor

            Hakiem Ayele as Skater

            Antonio Barfield as Skater

            Safiya Brawner as Skater

            Kelvin Broadnax as Skater

            Kyle Dutcher as Skater

            Dancia Garner as Skater

            Pierpont Geer IV as Skater

            Brandon Gibbs as Skater

            Leslie Howell as Skater

            DeShawn Ingram as Skater

            Paul Antonio Johnson as Skater

            James Jones as Skater

            Toria Morris as Skater

            Lisa Quinones as Skater

            Tony Lance Sailor Jr. as Skater

            Saladin Suluki as Skater

            Virginia Turner as Skater

            Kenya Tyson as Skater

            Douglas B. Wynn as Skater

            Evan Ross
            
            Tip "t.I" Harris
            
            Antwan 'Big Boi' Patton
            
            Antwan "big Boi" Patton
            
See full cast

ATL (2006)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

Bobby H

Lenny M

EightThirty .

Fascade F

Erin C

Cast

Photos

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