despite some strong performances , never rises above the level of a telanovela . 
(ROOT (S (PP (IN despite) (NP (DT some) (JJ strong) (NNS performances))) (, ,) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VBZ rises) (PP (IN above) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN level)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (NN telanovela)))))) (. .)))
(ROOT (S (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NNS ))) (, ) (ADVP (RB )) (VP (VBZ ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NN )))))) (. )))