High school cheerleader and dancer Dallas Bryan (Siena Agudong) has her sights set on winning a dance scholarship to CalArts, so she can pursue her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Raised by her brother Nathan (Drew Ray Tanner), following the death of their parents, Dallas refuses to let anything distract her until she meets quarterback Drayton Lahey (Noah Beck). Initially taking an intense dislike to him, Dallas soon finds herself drawn to her classmate and her feelings threaten to derail her commitment to her dancing.
‘Sidelined: The QB and Me’ is based on Tay Marley’s viral Wattpad novel and upon its release on Tubi in North America, it became the platform’s highest-viewed content in only seven days. For those not in the know, Wattpad is an online publishing platform where writers can put their work in front of an audience without needing to go through the traditional publishing route. The film adaptation of the novel has clearly resonated with its young target audience but is it actually any good?
Arriving digitally in the UK courtesy of Vertigo Releasing, ‘Sidelined: The QB and Me’ tells a story that is familiar and has been done many times. Essentially, it’s a ‘good girl’ meets ‘bad boy’ and love gets in the way kind of story, so you know where the film is headed the minute that Dallas and Drayton lay eyes on each other. Despite the familiarity of the story, and the predictability of the plot, the film still manages to be entertaining and it’s no surprise that viewers have been drawn in.
There are attempts in the script to give a little more depth to Dallas and Drayton than you’ll perhaps expect. Dallas’ back story about being orphaned and the impact that has had on her determination is one compelling aspect, while Drayton proves to be much more than just a pretty boy jock. Like Dallas, he’s battling his own issues and his overbearing father (James Van Der Beek), who happens to be the school principal, is trying to force him down a path he's not sure he wants to pursue. Add into the mix that Dallas’ brother Nathan is also the school football coach, and things get pretty intertwined and complicated quickly.
While the film may not exactly break new ground, there’s a lot of positives to be found in the performances of leads Siena Agudong and Noah Beck. Firstly, they have a believable chemistry, which is apparent from the moment they share their first scene together, and secondly they elevate the material with their commitment. You know that Dallas and Drayton are going to get together, but the actors make that journey to romance an enjoyable ride. Drew Ray Tanner, best-known for ‘Riverdale’, deserves mention for his sensitive portrayal of Nathan, who is balancing personal and professional responsibility as he himself tries to navigate life.
Things are left wide-open for a sequel so don’t be surprised if ‘Sidelined: The QB and Me' turns into a franchise. What it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with a stellar cast and performances that are better than they have any right to be. The film’s core audience will lap this up and honestly, it’s one of the more solid high school rom-coms I’ve seen in a while. It may not change your world, but ‘Sidelined: The QB and Me’ is addictively entertaining.
Cast: Siena Agudong, Noah Beck, Drew Ray Tanner, James Van Der Beek, Deborah Cox Director: Justin Wu Writers: Crystal Ferreiro, Mary Gulino, Tay Marley (based on ‘The QB Bad Boy and Me’) Certificate: TBC Duration: 99 mins Released by: Vertigo Releasing Release date: 17th February 2025
