Soppy, Dripping Mess of a film.

Rating: 4/10 (26 November 2007)

This film tries too hard to pull at heartstrings. Sentimental movies should just "happen" - they shouldn't be contrived messes. I read one reviewer say that this film should have been titled "Oliver! 2: Electric Boogaloo" and that about sums it up. The actors plod through horrid direction - the music is as banal as it comes, and why is it that every kid genius MUST play the role as sub-autistic? Not every genius is socially damaged. This movie should be burned or relegated to the Lifetime Movie Network. This film insulted me as a film-goer and music lover. I should have been crying at the end of the film, and instead I just left angry that this one even got out the gate. A lighter touch in directing, and better musical direction would have turned this into a good film - the story is interesting, but it was painted with a jackhammer instead of a brush.