Film Review – The Crusades

“The Crusades” carries a mighty title suggesting an historical adventure movie to come. In reality, it’s a high school comedy, and one that follows the exploits of teenage boys striving to make sense of life and love as they deal with a single day of torment. Co-writer/director Leo Milano isn’t offering a stunning reinvention of the teen comedy here, playing with the basics in hallway intimidation and tested relationships. The tone of “The Crusades” never gels, as the material introduces itself as a comedy and concludes as a drama, and Milano never finds the right balance of silliness and emotion to really make something memorable. There are spirited moments in the picture, but the endeavor as a whole is uneven, lacking inspired goofiness and a deeper, more human feel for the characters. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com