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'Crossover' scores on the court, not in the story

Fans of streetball — the flashy, urban style of basketball performance art that's spawned its own stars, video games and even an ESPN series — will find lots of smooth moves to check out in "Crossover." But compared to those prodigious in-your-face fakes, alley oops and slam dunks, the movie's trite, trash-talking dialogue and drippy do-the-right-thing message fall as flat as an airball.

Sony Pictures 'Crossover' C The verdict: A glimpse of a fascinating basketball subculture that loses its game in a slight, stale story. Director: Preston A. Whitmore Starring: Anthony Mackie, Wesley Jonathon, Wayne Brady, Shelli Boone, Alecia Jai Fears, Michael Kimbrew, Phillip "Hot Sauce" Champion Run time: 95 minutes Release date: Sept. 1, 2006 Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and some language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Crossover'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

"Crossover" stars Anthony Mackie as Tech and Wesley Jonathon as Cruise, two Detroit streetball buddies with very different hoop dreams. Cruise wants to use his talents as the means to a better life by earning a basketball scholarship to UCLA, where he'll study pre-med. Tech is content with a GED and showing out on the streetball court, but thinks Cruise should be making the NBA, not medicine, his life's goal.

The conflict between the friends is stoked by former sports agent, Vaughn, played by comedian Wayne Brady in something of cynical turn. Vaughn fixes bets on underground street ball games. And his top player is the narcissistic Jewelz (Atlanta streetball pioneer Phillip "Hot Sauce" Champion).

The storyline takes several soap opera-like twists, with Tech and Cruise traveling to Los Angeles with their girlfriends to visit the UCLA campus, and the revelation of a secret from their past. Predictably, though, it all comes down to a final game, with Tech and Cruise going up against Jewelz's unbeaten team.

Director Preston A. Whitemore II leaves little doubt about the outcome. But where Tech and Cruise wind up, and what they learn about each other and themselves, is the real lesson Whitemore wants to teach about winning and losing. And it's a good one. Too bad then that "Crossover" doesn't bring enough movie game to score with it.

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