Sidelined 2: Intercepted is directed by Justin Wu and follows Drayton (Noah Beck) and Dallas (Siena Agudong), who are both struggling to make time for each other due to the pressure of taking American football and dance more seriously. When Dallas gets a new job, she meets Skyler (Charlie Gillespie). At the same time, Drayton is taking it easy in American football and meets Charlotte (Roan Curtis). Could this put their relationship to the test?

Sidelined 2: Intercepted was an amazing and mature film. From the start it’s fun, but as it goes on it becomes a little more serious and emotional. Even with all the emotional moments, they still manage to keep it light at the same time. Sidelined has good comedy throughout the film. The characters have grown up more this time around, and when they do have arguments or disagreements, they act more like mature adults and actually talk to each other instead of shouting or avoiding things for the most part. This was a surprising twist, since most films in this genre don’t have characters who act as maturely as the ones in Sidelined 2, and it helped make them feel more realistic. I felt more sucked into their world because of that. Siena and Noah have just as great chemistry as the first film and they play their roles so well from the way they look at each other lovingly to how they act it their relationships feel honest and they are both extremely talented actors. I also loved the little giggles Dallas did throughout the film and it sometimes made me wonder if some of the laughs were real from Siena. When Skyler and Charlotte are introduced, they bring a subtle amount of tension among the characters. It’s not dramatic or overwhelming, but just enough to shift the atmosphere and make everyone rethink where they stand.

One thing I love about these characters is how kind-hearted and compassionate Skyler and Charlotte are. They have good intentions, and we also get to explore more emotional and deeper moments with them. I even felt a little sorry for them. Charlie and Roan deliver amazing performances. We also get the return of previous cast members such as Drew Ray Tanner (Nathan), Asia Lizardo (Gabby), and more. I liked the heartfelt moments between Dallas and Nathan. Gabby is also very mature and reminds certain characters that they’re grown-ups now and have to handle things maturely. They aren’t in high school anymore, so they can’t keep avoiding people — they have to face each other. This was a very impactful and mature moment in the film, and I think it made the characters reflect on themselves and realise they were being a little silly. Sidelined 2 intercepted also has lots of music moments from Siena’s talented dance scenes to Charlie’s amazing singing voice.

The cinematography and lighting in this film are great, especially during the dance and music scenes. I also liked how a lot of the shots aren’t zoomed in, so you can see the characters’ full outfits and shoes throughout many scenes. I thought this was a unique style of cinematography, and it made the film visually better overall.  

Sidelined may not end the way fans hope or are expecting, but at the same time it’s also a happy ending and doesn’t leave on a sad note. Some people will hope for more, and I’m sure in the next film any concerns fans had will be fixed. The ending also reassures fans that regardless of what happens, characters will always be there for each other and look out for one another, but it also leaves hope for more. Overall, Sidelined is a wonderful film with a talented cast, a good story with mature growth, great characters, good romance, and emotional moments, all while still having plenty of comedy. I highly recommend watching it. 

4🌟Sidelined 2: Intercepted is free on Tubi.