Fired Up!

An affable throwback to the comedies of the 1980s, Fired Up! follows a pair of slick high schoolers (Nicholas D’Agosto’s Shawn and Eric Christian Olsen’s Nick) as they swindle their way into cheerleading camp in an effort at meeting (and sleeping with) a variety of girls. It’s a high-concept premise that’s employed to surprisingly positive effect by director Will Gluck, as the filmmaker has infused the proceedings with an easy-going and lighthearted vibe that inevitably proves impossible to resist. There’s little doubt that the effortlessly engaging central performances play a substantial role in the film’s success, with D’Agosto and Olsen’s charismatic work ensuring that their respective characters never come off as the sleazeballs one might’ve anticipated (ie Shawn and Nick’s relentless scheming is almost Ferris Buelleresque in its good-naturedness). Screenwriter Freedom Jones does a nice job of peppering Fired Up! with the various elements that are part and parcel with comedies of this ilk, including wacky misunderstandings, quirky supporting characters, and histrionic third-act plot developments – with the latter handled particularly well by Jones (ie such interludes aren’t nearly as painful and eye-roll-inducing as they could’ve been). And while there are a few lulls within the narrative’s midsection, admittedly, Fired Up! primarily establishes itself as an enjoyable and mindlessly entertaining romp that’s certainly a whole lot better than one had any right to expect (and it’s impossible not to admire the gusto with which actor David Walton attacks his almost ludicrously jerky character).

*** out of ****