The screenplay, which was inspired by the Southwest Dekalb High School Drumline, was written by Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps.

The film follows a young drummer from New York, played by Nick Cannon, who enters the fictional Atlanta A&T University and bumps heads with the leader of his new school's drum section.

Devon was personally invited to attend on a full scholarship by Dr. Lee, head of the band, for his prodigious talents.

Preseason band camp is physically and mentally challenging, designed to push members past their limits.

At the end of preseason, the musicians audition for spots on the field, and Devon is the only freshman to make P1, the highest-level player.

This sets up some tension in the drumline which is exacerbated when Dr. Lee is told by school president Wagner to change his focus from music to entertainment or risk losing funding.

Devon contacts A&T's rival school Morris Brown College, to discuss playing for their band next season.

Mr. Wade, Brown's band leader, says that Devon does not need to know how to read music and will likely get a full scholarship and a good position on the drumline.

The site's consensus states: "Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.

[11] The film was given 3½ stars at Allmovie, where reviewer Josh Ralske gave positive note to the performances of the main cast and Stone's direction but still called the plot "formulaic.

"[14] At the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan believed the film to be entertaining, although he states that the plot is "way-familiar.

"[15] Writing for The New York Times, A. O. Scott, while feeling the movie had a "skimpy, hectic plot," still believed the film to be "bouncy, boisterous and charming," and the play of the marching bands to be "downright thrilling.

Giving the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, Levine called the screenplay "standard formula" and "predictable," and went on to say that it was unfunny as well as uninspiring.