Excellent. Honest and sweet in a way few movies dare.

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2003)

I liked some of the songs from the soundtrack and borrowed the DVD from a friend to see what the movie was like. Some would maintain that it's not a true musical in the sense of classics like Singin' In the Rain and West Side Story, and they're probably right, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining if you give it a chance. For all its pop-culture borrowing and frantic presentation it stays true to its message, simple though it is, and avoids descending into the tedious self-mockery and cynicism so common to many modern movies. It's really surprisingly sweet, honest, and moving. It may seem strange to say that a movie like this takes itself seriously, but it's true, and it shows. On top of that, the movie is beautifully made and everyone in the cast does an excellent job. I really enjoyed it, and I'll be buying my own DVD to watch it again.