STICK IT — ** — Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Vanessa Lengies; rated PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, racial epithets, brief drugs, nude artwork).

"Stick It" would dearly love to be the next "Bring It On," the 2000 cheerleading comedy that became a surprise hit on the strength of its appealing cast, energetic choreography and sassy, sarcastic dialogue.

And of all the various knock-offs of that film, this gymnastics comedy — from the same screenwriter (Jessica Bendinger), who also makes her directorial debut here — stands the best chance of doing just that.

Unfortunately, the "Bring It On" formula has already been imitated so many times that it's become tired.

And speaking of tired, there's a curious lack of energy here, as both the performances and direction seem listless.

Hilary Swank lookalike Missy Peregrym (TV's "Life As We Know It") stars as Haley Graham, a once-promising gymnast who quit during a world competition.

Since then, she's gotten into all kinds of trouble, the latest being a disastrous BMX stunt that wrecks a home under construction. So Haley is given a choice: go to jail or go to a gymnastics academy run by coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges).

As you might expect, the demanding Burt and the insolent Haley butt heads. However, he does manage to get one point across — this is her last shot at redemption.

There are a couple of marginally amusing moments here, but Bendinger's smart-alecky dialogue sounds forced —especially the pithy line in all the trailers: "This isn't gym-NICE-tics!"

And as strong-willed Haley, Peregrym just isn't very likable (unlike Eliza Dushku, who played a similar role in "Bring It On"). But Bridges is solid, as usual, and he does his best to save the film.

"Stick It" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of strong profanity, some crude references and innuendo, as well as some flatulence humor, athletically based violence (including a BMX accident and a few gymnastics pratfalls), use of racial epithets (song lyrics), some brief drug content (during a fantasy sequence), and glimpses of nude cartoon figures. Running time: 105 minutes.

---

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com