Movie Review: Boogie

What I thought of Boogie:
You can play the game or you can change it, Boogie (Taylor Takahashi) is the coming-of-age story (as the movie states we all have one, what\’s yours?) of Alfred \”Boogie\” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens whose fathers dreams of him playing in the NBA and saving the family. 

The dream of playing in the NBA becomes Boogie\’s as well, but if he wants to get a scholarship to an elite school he needs to calm his hot temper down. Which despite his mom saying he gets from his father he definitely gets it from both parents. 

Boogie\’s father sends him to a new high school in hopes of getting recognized by a scout, with the goal of it leading to a scholarship. The main focus being beating Monk (Pop Smoke) in an upcoming game. In order for that to happen Boogie needs to become a team player and struggles as he tells the coach the team is \”hot trash.\” And, let\’s face it they are, but saying that doesn\’t hype anyone up.

The pressure his parents put on him doesn\’t help with anything, not only is the burden of expectations from his parents, but he is reminded all the time that he needs to succeed as to not let his ancestors down. We\’ve all been there, our parents expect so much out of us, but having your ancestors been thrown into the mix because they worked so hard to get you to the place you are now? That\’s a tough pill to swallow. 

Can Boogie navigate on-court rivals, become a team player, overcome the burden of expectation, a learn to have a new girlfriend all while trying to get into an elite college? You\’ll have to check out the film when it hits theaters this Friday. 

Even if you don\’t like basketball, Boogie is a great story, filled with a great cast (RIP Pop Smoke) with a story that many of us can relate to.