'ATL' presents intriguing, erratic story

Sometimes a film can succeed despite itself, and that's the case with ATL, which opens today. It marks the feature film debut of longtime music video director Chris Robinson and includes in its cast some fine character actors like Mykelti Williamson, Keith David and Lonette McKee. They are the anchors for an otherwise quite youthful cast spotlighted in the film, which was made in and around the Atlanta area last August, including the Cascade Skating Rink.

Despite taking far too long to develop the central premise, and often veering off into side excursions designed to incorporate some inarguably great R&B and rap songs from the soundtrack into the action, ATL still makes some provocative and valuable points.

Brothers Rashad (Tip Harris, aka T.I., whose new CD King was just released March 28) and Ant (Evan Ross) have been dealing with the loss of their parents, and are living with their uncle George (Williamson), a situation that doesn't exactly please anyone. It's forced Rashad to be a surrogate father, turned George's life upside down, and turned Ant into someone who equates material success with happiness.

Eventually, the other characters are integrated into the storyline. They include the academically gifted but fiscally challenged Esquire (Jackie Long); Teddy (Jason Weaver), whose decision to drop out of high school has limited his options; and Brooklyn (Albert Daniels), a former New Yorker who's made the transition to the Southern version of urban life. The quartet are not only close friends but skating partners at a local rink, and are now preparing to win a yearly competition.

But things begin changing among the group after Rashad meets and is intrigued by New-New (Lauren London), a girl that's different from anyone he's ever met. Esquire also gains a new friend in CEO John Garnett (Keith David), and suddenly envisions a chance at getting into a prestigious college, since Garnett not only has money but plenty of connections and power. But both Rashad and Esquire soon discover that things aren't what they seem, and the results of their discoveries lead to some life-changing situations.

Meanwhile, Rashad also must try to help Ant, now ensnarled in some ugly business as a runner for a drug dealer, while simultaneously trying to reconcile with his increasingly bitter and withdrawn Uncle George.

Granted, there's not much surprise in the way ATL unfolds, or in its eventual outcomes. At times it seems like Robinson goes out of his way to bolster the film's