Ready? OK! is a fun and inspirational film. I enjoyed watching it as the film has influences from two of my favorite films: Billy Elliot and But I Am A Cheerleader. This movie follows the adventures of 10-year-old (almost 11) Josh Dowd (Lurie Poston), an energetic young boy studying in a rather strict private religious school and is on its wrestling team. But Josh is not that interested in wrestling. He would like to join the school’s cheerleader team and wears a homemade button on which is the face of his favorite varsity wrestler.
School officials disapprove of Josh’s attempts to join the cheerleader team. He is told to ” forget all hopes that he would ever join the team.” But then, as the movie continues, the viewer sees how cheerful the young boy is as he doesn’t give up hope. He says, “Hey! I’m not trying to break the rules – but change them!”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people had his attitude?
The character development in the film is quite well accomplished, as we gradually learn a lot of new things about Josh, his mom, uncle, and even his “artistic” neighbor. Carrie Preston plays the challenging role of the overworked mom, who doesn’t have time for her son. She worries that she might have trouble at her job as people could decide that she is not “what they are looking for”. She also frets that her expectations for her son are not being fulfilled, and her confusion makes her admit that she doesn’t know what to do…or say about him. That is until she is told by their neighbor that, to him, “Josh is one of the smartest, funniest, most sensitive little boys he has ever had a pleasure of knowing” and that she is missing an amazing opportunity of being there for him, helping him to be himself – not what others are expecting him to be.
My own experience with cheerleaders is from the time I was studying in the US. That’s the very first time I saw cheerleading teams, and the team at our school was the bomb ( I had a bit of a crush on one of the girls on the team ). And we also had our own Josh (of course, his name was different), the only boy on the cheerleading team. And, yes, like the boy in the movie, he got teased for it. I have to admit that I admired him, as sometimes it takes some guts to stand up for yourself and do what you like to be doing.
While Ready? OK! was created to be more funny and entertaining than serious. I believe that many will discover something of themselves in the film. Family, acceptance, determination, and love are all mixed in 91 minutes, which I believe you’ll find quite enjoyable.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabQrSlSdGQ
I don't remember exactly how I bump into this movie. And I was desperate to watch the movie, then while watching it. I found it boring, since you really want to get in what Josh is doing. In fact you get to know all the characters in the film. And Josh gets into a 2nd or 3rd place.
I will love that the story revolved a little bit more in Josh.
well, looks funny that's for sure…. wrestling, only girls team, a gay neighbor …. just like Billy Elliot.