More Sparkle than meets the eye
Overcomes its overdone “rising star” formula with surprising drama, decent songs, a breakout performance by Carmen Ejogo, a nice debut from Jordan Sparks, and the haunting swan song of Whitney Houston.
Rated PG-13 for mature content, drug material, violence, language and smoking.
Grade: B+
Bruce Bennett Short Bio
Bruce Bennett has been the primary contributor to Mad About Movies since it began in 2003. He is an award winning film and theater critic who, since 2000, has been writing a weekly column in The Spectrum daily newspaper in southern Utah as well as serving as a contributing editor of “The Independent,” a monthly entertainment magazine. He is also the co-host of “Film Fanatics” a movie review show which earned a Telly in 2009. Bruce is also a featured contributor at: RottenTomatoes.com
His motto: "I see bad movies so you don't have to."