The inspirational sports movie formula has gotten perhaps a little too much exercise lately, with many recent tales of underdog triumph blurring together. Still, there's always room for a good one, and despite a second half that feels more routine than its first, PRIDE is a definite crowd-pleaser. Based on a true story, this confident first feature from helmer Sunu Gonera boasts a terrific performance from Terrence Howard as the coach of an unlikely 1970s ghetto swim team, with sidekick Bernie Mac also in fine form. Pic has sleeper potential on home turf, with strong ancillary action to follow.

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The common good is also central to PRIDE, a go-for-it movie based on the true story of an African-American swimming coach who led his poor black community-recreation-center team to victory over snooty racist white academies that had no idea black people could swim. This is familiar terrain jazzed up by unfamiliar voices - principally Terrence Howard and his high-pitched, singsong drawl. You don't quite know what he's thinking; he might even be demented. But he keeps you watching and guessing. He's certainly more compelling than Bernie Mac, who doesn't rise above his poorly written role (grumpy custodian turned loyal sidekick). PRIDE has one unusual plot turn. When the coach beats up a thug who maliciously soils his pool, he makes an example of himself for his kids and throws himself off the team. He sits outside as they compete in their championship match! Have you ever seen a climax like that - the director cutting back and forth, back and forth, between furious swimming before a cheering crowd and the star mulishly refusing to budge from some steps? Movies in the promiscuous go-for-it genre rarely show such inner discipline.

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PRIDE combines the two main themes in the current plethora of sports movies - the inspirational victory and a BAD NEWS BEARS team that goes from ragtag to riches. Throw in historical black empowerment, too, which does occasionally crop up in films like GLORY ROAD. Thus, the problem facing a film like PRIDE is that it feels like something we saw a month ago. Yes, Terrence Howard delivers another solid lead performance and competition swimming is a new arena for such films. Nonetheless, PRIDE is just plain trite. (...) Under the direction of neophyte Sunu Gonera (...), the film is technically proficient. Matthew F. Leonetti's camerawork is polished and fluid, while designer Steve Saklad handles period details well. A soundtrack of "Philly Soul" - familiar music from the songwriting team of Gamble and Huff - makes for great listening.

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