Tyrese, Wahlberg, James Franco Fight It Out In Coming-Of-Age Flick, 'Annapolis'

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You've seen dozens of war movies . You've seen hundreds of coming-of-age stories. But according to Donnie Wahlberg ("The Sixth Sense," "Saw II"), it's unlikely you've seen anything like "Annapolis."

" 'Annapolis' is not really a military film," Wahlberg insisted, offering a preview of the film and his character, a lieutenant commander at the titular Naval Academy. "It's not like 'Jarhead,' or 'Black Hawk Down,' or anything like that. It's about becoming an officer. It's about becoming a man."

Centering on a rebellious new academy recruit (James Franco of the "Spider-Man" films) and his commanding officer (Tyrese Gibson of "2 Fast 2 Furious" fame) who aims to break him, the movie blends drama, action and pugilism into an explosive mix.

"I play a lieutenant commander in the Naval Academy," offered Wahlberg. "James Franco's character is a kid from the other side of the tracks, the type of kid who doesn't [often] find his way into the academy, but I sort of take a liking to him and push to get him in.

"Tyrese is his instructor, and Franco is very self-destructive — he doesn't believe in himself," Wahlberg continued. "He doesn't know if he's capable of leading men and he's afraid to fail."

When Franco's Jake Huard befriends a fellow trainee, a woman named Ali (Jordana Brewster, "D.E.B.S."), he finds not only a confidante, but also a potential love interest.

"It's like a modern-day 'Officer and a Gentleman' type of film," Wahlberg said. "But the twist is that in the academy there's a huge event called the Brigades, a boxing tournament between the Naval Academy guys and Marines; it's a huge thing. James Franco's character has a love for boxing, and ultimately boxing keeps him hanging in there in the academy. Tyrese and I use boxing to inspire him to find his way to be a leader.

"This is the story before the war," the former New Kid on the Block member and current in-demand character actor concluded. "It's a coming-of-age story, a love story and the story of a guy from the other side of the tracks who overcomes the odds and does something that nobody thought he could do — except for maybe one or two people who were willing to take a shot."

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— Larry Carroll