CROSSROADS at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

Crossroads: Cinema Synopsis
The story of three childhood friends, Lucy, Kit and Mimi, who, after eight years apart, rediscover their friendship on a cross-country trip. With barely a plan, practically no money, but plenty of dreams, the girls catch a lift with Mimi's handsome, mysterious friend Ben in his '73 Buick convertible. Along the way they not only gather experiences that will change their lives forever, but they also discover how important it is to hold onto their hearts' desires. girls embark on an adventure that will teach them just how important it is to hold on to one's desires.

Crossroads: Tony's Comments
Britney Spears makes her big-screen debut in "Crossroads", a film made by females (Director - Tama Davis, Writer Shonda Rhimes) for females. "Crossroads" should have strong appeal to its target audience - young girls. Unfortunately the film suffers from too much soap opera and not enough zest or fun. "Crossroads" works best when music is injected into it. For example Britney's first appearance miming the Madonna song "Open Your Heart" and the sing along in the car, by Britney and the girls, to Shania Twain's "Man I Feel Like A Woman". These musical moments are definite standouts. Britney even gets to perform two of her own songs, the ballad "Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" & the more up-tempo "Overprotected" during the end credits. In another highlight Britney does her own cover version of "I Love Rock n Roll" in a Karaoke bar.

"Crossroads" is essentially a road trip with Britney going in search of her mother, played by former teen actress Kim Cattrall. The film builds up well to what should have been an emotional climax but when the mother and daughter finally meet the film falls flat on its face. What should have been an emotional showdown comes across incomplete when the scene ends abruptly leaving the viewer somewhat dissatisfied. In the next scene we see Britney telling her boyfriend what happened during the meeting with her mother. The important conversation between Britney and her mother that we should have seen is never shown. Although not a critical success "Crossroads" was a box office hit having been made on a budget of $12million and grossing over $37 million in the U.S. All in all, "Crossroads" is a nice enough film debut for teen singer Britney Spears but too much melodrama and not enough comedy or music weighs it down somewhat. It should nevertheless appeal too teenage girl everywhere, and especially to Britney Spears fans.

Crossroads [DVD](2002) DVD
Teen pop queen Britney Spears makes her starring screen debut in this lively road movie. After graduating from high school, former childhood pals Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning join Spears on an eventful cross-country trip to L.A.: Saldana to confront her hesitant fiance at college, Manning to try to become a singer, and Spears to find the mother who left her and her dad years earlier. Co-stars Anson Mount, Dan Aykroyd, Kim Cattrall, Richard Voll. 93 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; deleted scenes; featurette; music videos; photo gallery; theatrical trailers; TV spots; more.