Annapolis Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A scrappy welder punches his way through Naval Academy hazing and finds love, proving that if you box hard enough, calculus doesn’t matter.

🍿 Annapolis: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Jake’s Dream

Jake Huard, a young man from a working-class background, dreams of attending the prestigious Annapolis Naval Academy. He faces numerous obstacles, including his father’s disapproval and his own academic shortcomings. Despite these challenges, Jake persists, driven by a promise he made to his late mother.

Life at Annapolis

Once admitted to Annapolis, Jake struggles to adapt to the rigorous academic and physical demands. He clashes with his superior officer, Cole, and faces constant pressure to prove himself. He finds allies in his roommate, Twins, and Ali, a fellow midshipman who also serves as one of his instructors. Jake must overcome his initial struggles and learn to work with others if he wants to make it through the Academy.

The Boxing Tournament

As Jake progresses through his plebe year, he finds an outlet in the brigade boxing tournament. He uses his natural talent and determination to excel in the ring. The tournament becomes a central focus, representing Jake’s personal growth and his fight to earn respect from his peers and superiors.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jake Huard (James Franco): A determined young man from a working-class background who overcomes academic and physical challenges to succeed at the Naval Academy.
• Ali (Jordana Brewster): A Midshipman 2nd Class who serves as Jake’s instructor and becomes his love interest.
• Cole (Tyrese Gibson): A strict Midshipman Lieutenant 1st Class and Marine who initially antagonizes Jake but later recognizes his potential.
• Lt. Burton (Donnie Wahlberg): A Lieutenant Commander who sees potential in Jake and supports his acceptance into the Naval Academy.
• Twins (Nance) (Vicellous Shannon): Jake’s overweight roommate who struggles with the physical demands of the Academy and becomes a source of support for Jake.
• Bill Huard (Brian Goodman): Jake’s unsupportive father, who works at a shipyard and initially doubts Jake’s ability to succeed.
• Whitaker (McCaleb Burnett): An upperclassman instructor who is very harsh in his treatment of the plebes and is defeated by Jake in the boxing tournament.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Cole: “The worst officer is the one who doesn’t have the courage to admit that he or she does not know the answer.” – Cole says this to Huard after catching him guessing during a pop quiz, emphasizing the importance of honesty and integrity in leadership.
• Jake Huard: “You want to know why I stay in this room? Cause Jake, you’re my Mississippi.” – Said by Twins explaining why he stays with Jake, showing that Jake is the reason he wants to improve himself and keep going.
• Cole: “I’ve been a soldier. I know the difference between a good officer and a bad one.” – Cole says this to Jake to emphasize his determination to ensure only worthy officers graduate from the academy.
• LCDR Burton: “You won’t survive Annapolis on your own.” – Burton tells Jake this after Jake demonstrates his talent but makes a number of critical mistakes showing the importance of teamwork.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $26,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $17,127,992
• Worldwide Gross: $17,496,992

💥 Annapolis Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Annapolis’ isn’t winning any awards, but I honestly enjoyed it. It’s a classic underdog story with James Franco giving it his all. Sure, it’s predictable, but sometimes you just want that comforting familiarity. The boxing scenes were surprisingly intense, and I found myself rooting for Jake despite the cheesiness. It’s a decent watch if you don’t take it too seriously and just want some easy entertainment.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of military dramas”
  • “Boxing movie enthusiasts”
  • “Those interested in coming-of-age stories”
  • “James Franco fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild language”
  • “Some violence in boxing scenes”
  • “Brief reference to suicide attempt”
  • “Hazing and bullying themes”

Professional Reviews

• Sam Osborn – Sam Sees Cinema: “Annapolis is uninspired and indecisive. Its boxing scenes are apathetic to creativity, its romance buoyed by safety restraints, and its father-son sentiment unearned. This film attempts to hone in on life at the Academy, but the scenes work less like plot developing sequences and more like government funded commercials.
• Claudio Carvalho – IMDb: “”Annapolis” is one of those movies that the viewer can foresee the whole story. In this one, there is a combination of those “tough lives of rookies with their superiors” in a military facility with a box competition, in a predictable collection of clichés. Further, the film is miscast.
• Grady Harp – IMDb: “From the graphics, trailer, and cover of the DVD, ANNAPOLIS looks as though it is a movie about life in military training. And, yes, there are scenes showing the rigorous training these young men receive on their way to becoming Navy officers. But quickly after the Annapolis portion of the film begins the story turns into yet another young boxer proves himself through his sport story and not a very powerful one at that.

Audience Reactions

I walked into the movie with an open mind and ended up enjoying it.: Some viewers found the movie enjoyable, especially when entering with low expectations.

The boxing scenes were well shot and exciting enough.: The boxing aspects were the most praised part of the movie, the main reason to watch it.

Overall Consensus: Annapolis is a very derivative movie that does not reach the level of its inspirational counterparts, though some viewers still enjoyed it for the boxing scenes and James Franco’s performance.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “James Franco and Tyrese Gibson reportedly did not get along during filming, with Gibson expressing he never wanted to work with Franco again. Franco responded that he tried to make amends after filming wrapped.”
• “The film received criticism from Naval Academy graduates for its unrealistic portrayal of academy life and inaccurate depiction of military discipline.”

🖥️ How to Watch Annapolis?

Annapolis is available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Annapolis, you might like these similar films:

• An Officer and a Gentleman (1982): Both films follow a rebellious young man undergoing rigorous training at a military academy, dealing with authority, and finding love amidst the challenges.
• Rocky (1976): The boxing tournament storyline and underdog overcoming adversity thematic similarities make ‘Rocky’ a comparable sports drama.
• Top Gun (1986): It focuses on competitive training in a military setting, although ‘Top Gun’ is centered around aviation rather than naval academy boxing.
• Men of Honor (2000): Both movies showcase the trials and triumphs of individuals striving to overcome prejudice and adversity within the Navy, highlighting themes of perseverance and breaking barriers.

🛒 Annapolis Related Products

• Annapolis [Blu-ray]: Experience Annapolis in high definition. Enjoy the intense boxing action and the underdog story in stunning visual clarity.
• U.S. Naval Academy T-Shirt: Show your support with this awesome t-shirt. High-quality fabric, durable print featuring the iconic Naval Academy crest.
• Everlast Boxing Gloves: Train like Jake Huard with a pair of Everlast boxing gloves. Perfect for training or display. Features durable construction and comfortable fit.
• United States Navy Seal Workout Guide: Get in Navy Seal shape. A fitness regimen inspired by Navy training. Ideal for those who want to push their limits. Useful guides and training programs to make an officer like Jake

🎧 Soundtrack

Annapolis features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Nowhere Ride” – performed by The Chelsea Smiles

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

djbez: Annapolis (music by brandon)

Ever wondered how ‘Annapolis’ could be re-imagined with a cool, original score? Check out this student project that gives the boxing scenes a fresh, musical twist – I think it’s a pretty awesome take on the movie’s intensity!

✨ Rate