I caught this movie the other night and really enjoyed it. When I was watching "ATL", I had this feeling of deja vu. Although, "ATL" is an enjoyable movie to watch, it shares the same formula as the 1979 rollerskating movie titled "Roller Boogie". In both movies, there is the "poor little rich girl" who wants to fit in, so she hangs out at the local roller rink. On the other side, there is the blue collar guy that is trying to get ahead, and keep afloat in life. The only difference in both movies, is that "ATL" focuses more on the interpersonal relationships of the main character's friends and family. In "Roller Boogie", the focus is more on the teens trying to save the local roller rink from being torn down, and thus threatening the cancellation of the big roller boogie competition...only in the '70s! For "ATL", I thought that T.I. did a great job, along with the other characters, in portraying kids trying to figure out what their next step will be in life, after high school. The roller segments and music just added to the movie. It was more of a drama. Even though roller skating is featured, it doesn't come off trying to cash in on a fad. It's more of a drama, with a nice soundtrack and skating thrown in. If you are a fan of dramas that are not too heavy, this is a great choice.
