Pride (2007)

45% of critics liked it
(108 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(102,399 ratings)

A college-educated African-American schoolteacher frustrated by his inability to find a job repairs an abandoned recreational pool hall in hopes of starting Philadelphia's first African-American swim team in this inspirational drama that takes its cue from the true-life story of charismatic… More A college-educated African-American schoolteacher frustrated by his inability to find a job repairs an abandoned recreational pool hall in hopes of starting Philadelphia's first African-American swim team in this inspirational drama that takes its cue from the true-life story of charismatic 1970s-era schoolteacher Jim Ellis. The year is 1973 and the job market is tight. Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) may have a college diploma, but despite his education he still can't seem to find a job. An aspiring teacher with a lifelong love of competitive swimming, Ellis determines to take his future into his own hands when he discovers a deserted recreational pool hall in the slums of the city. Though he and kindly local janitor Elston (Bernie Mac) do their best to get the crumbling pool hall in working order, the pair find their benevolent efforts thwarted when the building is targeted for demolition. Little do the forces that be know that Jim isn't a man to quietly lie down and admit defeat; despite the racism, violence, and threats made by an unsympathetic city official that all threaten to destroy his vivid new dream, the man who was once without purpose boldly resolves to recruit troubled street teens and transform them into capable swimmers in time for the upcoming state championships. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Sunu Gonera
Written By: Michael Gozzard, Kevin Michael Smith
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 14, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jun 26, 2007
Studio: Lionsgate

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Director Sunu Gonera does a nice job with the swim meet scenes, and the cast of mostly unknown younger actors is extremely likable.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
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.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
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.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
That Pride ultimately gets to you is more of a surprise than the outcome because it's not very well-constructed.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Despite the stale odor of the broth, lack of originality isn't Pride's stumbling point -- it's that the familiar story is not well presented.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A generic against-the-odds underdog sports drama.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
It's another kinda, sorta based on a true story, inspirational sports film in the vein of any given Bruckheimer sports film.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
Maybe because it focused on swimming, and didn't really capture the drama of the sport, it came off like a TV movie. It even borrowed from Dead Poets Society with an 'Oh Captain, My Captain' moment.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Feel-good swimming flick takes on racism.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Whether intentionally or not, the supplement section of Lionsgate's DVD release actually shows how much more effective this film could have been.
Ted Murphy, Murphy's Movie Reviews
Howard anchors the film with a charismatic turn. He doesn't turn Ellis into a plaster saint but portrays a complex and complicated man.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The DVD provides a nice-looking widescreen version of the film (2.35:1 aspect ratio).
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
A movie that deserves to succeed, but falls just short because it shows us much more than it teaches us.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...undone by its reliance on exceedingly conventional elements.
Stax, IGN Movies
Despite its shortcomings, Pride proves to be an effective feel-good sports drama.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Though well-intentioned, unfolds in fairly formulaic fashion for a sports flick, with Terrence Howard turning in one of his typically captivating performances as the charismatic coach.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Directed by Zimbabwean-born Sunu Gonera, who seems fascinated with 1970s American 'ghetto' atmosphere; he overdoses viewers on afros, hoop earrings and graffiti, which at least keeps the movie watchable.
Keith Phipps, AV Club
The plot plays out as predictably as anyone might expect, but the fine details keep Pride squarely above average.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
Bodies are framed and lit to be seen. In a movie where characters appear in dimly lit interiors or near light-reflecting chlorine-blue pools, this is no small thing.
Jonathan W. Hickman, Entertainment Insiders
While Terrence Howard is subdued in the role of Coach Ellis throughout much of the film, Bernie Mac provides a much needed lift especially early on.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

I really like Terrence Howard, and this movie was pretty good. Despite being super-sweet (to the point of saccharine), and being emotionally heavy-handed, I still had tears well in my eyes from time to time. While not overtly racist, this film was subtly racist. In the entire film… More
I really like Terrence Howard, and this movie was pretty good. Despite being super-sweet (to the point of saccharine), and being emotionally heavy-handed, I still had tears well in my eyes from time to time. While not overtly racist, this film was subtly racist. In the entire film there was only one positive white character, and he was only shown briefly at the beginning. Many of the white characters were blatantly, and ridiculously evil. BUT..I understood the meaning of the movie, and I did enjoy it.
Jameson W

I really liked this film alot. It's simple, very formulaic, but it is also very touching. Terrence Howard gives a very good performance. I'd recommend this film to anyone.
Alexander W

Swim films make good pick me up films with a very sporting motif underlying the movie pitch. Slightly let down in the fact that it was about this, haha, but still 4 stars for being good.
William D

[size=3]"Pride" is one of those simple, conventional but uplifting movies about at-risk youth defying the odds and learning to believe in themselves.[/size] [size=3][img]http://www.getoutaz.com/story/images/photos/bklmsvkd.jpg[/img][/size] [size=3]The film is set in 1974… More
[size=3]"Pride" is one of those simple, conventional but uplifting movies about at-risk youth defying the odds and learning to believe in themselves.[/size] [size=3][img]http://www.getoutaz.com/story/images/photos/bklmsvkd.jpg[/img][/size] [size=3]The film is set in 1974 Philadelphia in the heart of what is often called the "inner city." [I, by the way, live in the "inner city" -- Washington Heights, NYC -- aka "the ghetto."] The neighborhood is falling down around the people who can't afford to leave. Destitution and drugs are everywhere. It's a struggle for teenagers to escape the clutches of the local drug lords, who are the only people offering well-paying jobs.[/size] [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1165269/photo_05.jpg[/img] [size=3]As usual in this genre, there's a saintly adult who teaches the kids to dream big, and as usual there's some kind of hobby in which they immerse themselves. In this case it's something that is especially counter to the inner-city lifestyle: swimming. There are few sports as white as swimming.[/size] [size=3]The role of the encouraging adult is here played by [b]Terrence Howard[/b], the man who gave "Hustle & Flow" and "Crash" such remarkable soul. Unfortunately Howard here stays on the straight and narrow. He stays tightly within the conventions of this genre.[/size] [size=3]The same goes for [b]Bernie Mac[/b], who acts against type by not cracking jokes but who also stays firmly within the conventions. I'm disappointed that first-time director [b]Sunu Gonera [/b]kept his actors in such check. This is not an auspicious directorial debut.[/size] [size=3]Along with the story of the teenagers, there is the saga of the local Recreation Center, which was allowed to fall apart just like everything else in the neighborhood. As the kids are building their swimming skills, they're also working to breathe new life into the downtown Rec Center, hoping that the city will start funding it again. I'll let you guess as to whether they succeed.[/size] [img]http://www.getoutaz.com/story/images/photos/l5gogc0r.jpg[/img] [size=3]What would have been great is more complex story-writing about the Howard and Mac characters. All we get here is that their lives were hemmed in by racism. Of course that should be part of the story, but it's just about all we learn about these men. The same goes for the boys in the story. We never really get into these boys' hearts. Lord knows that black kids aren't only faced with battles against racists and drug lords. There's a lot more going on in the ghetto than that.[/size] [size=3]But as predictable and platitudinous as the story was, I was still moved. I cried during the film a number of times. You'd have to be made of stone not to. I still enjoy seeing movies about Black and Latin kids resisting the forces that be. And it's also still important to nurture filmmaking about Black experiences, even when the output isn't stellar. Ghetto kids who see this film will be moved; there's no doubt about it. That's worth a lot more than an artistic masterpiece, at least on certain levels.[/size] [img]http://www.austinchronicle.com/binary/4896/Pride.jpg[/img]
Dan S

From what I saw of it, totally cliched and very familiar, no originality at all.
Fascade F

It was a heart warming story of a community center on the way out of business. Time framed in the seventies based upon a true story, this movie will compel you to sit and watch until it is finished. Soul stirring performances Terrence Dashon Howard and Bernie Mack....fighting against… More
It was a heart warming story of a community center on the way out of business. Time framed in the seventies based upon a true story, this movie will compel you to sit and watch until it is finished. Soul stirring performances Terrence Dashon Howard and Bernie Mack....fighting against the odds to save a community center and a community, this was an enjoyable film.
Lesley N

I love swimming movies, even though actors can't swim for toffee. Plus this ones got Terrence Howard in it, hurray, Though Terrence Howards in everything
Philip P

No its not the most original story anymore after both titans and Glory Road, but with these sports movies its all about the genuine heart the actors must relay into the determination they are required to have to overcome the obstacles. In this racial story line Terrance Howard is such… More
No its not the most original story anymore after both titans and Glory Road, but with these sports movies its all about the genuine heart the actors must relay into the determination they are required to have to overcome the obstacles. In this racial story line Terrance Howard is such a terrific actor its easy to ignore the familiar struggles and become engulfed in the fight for what these characters want to achieve and what they need to be happy.
William G

Fine but familiar.
David S

Another late night find, this is a 'type' of film that we've seen many times before but it is still very entertaining and Terence Howard and Bernie Mac are great. Maybe because I used to be a swimmer I enjoyed this more than most but the film worked for me. Perhaps it… More
Another late night find, this is a 'type' of film that we've seen many times before but it is still very entertaining and Terence Howard and Bernie Mac are great. Maybe because I used to be a swimmer I enjoyed this more than most but the film worked for me. Perhaps it could have done with a bit more grit but these Hollywood true story films always leave a bit of a sweet taste behind. Pretty good though.
Chosen 7

Good film. Good performances by Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac.