Prakazrel Michel, better known as Pras from the top-selling R&B group The Fugees, stars in this urban drama based on both his solo album Ghetto Superstar and his novel of the same name. Diamond (Pras) is an up-and-coming musician who is trying to use his creative gifts to work his way out of the ghetto after the traumatic death of his mother. But he soon discovers that the music industry is nearly as corrupt and dangerous as the streets he's trying to leave behind, and Diamond is guided into a
life of crime by his shady friend Gage (Ja Rule). In addition, Diamond must content with the unexpected pregnancy of his girlfriend Tamara (Tamala Jones), and attempts by his father Cliff (Vondie Curtis-Hall) to mend their contentious relationship. Turn It Up, which was produced under the title Ghetto Superstar, also features Eugene Clark and Patricia Velasquez. Madonna helped to produce the film through her production company, Madguy Films. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Surprisingly, for a movie about music, the sound is lousy. Some of the songs sound distorted because they have so much bass. In other moments, the dialogue is so low, it's hard to understand what the characters are saying.
As both writer and director, Adetuyi doesn't bother bringing any emotional or psychological twists or nuances to these familiar character types; he gives them no depth whatsoever.
Eventually Turn It Up deteriorates into a gory shoot-'em-up gangster movie with a quick-fix ending that leaves many threads dangling. It could have been something more.
A lot of movies are predictable, of course, but this one seems inordinately determined to squash its characters (and performers) flat with its lack of imagination.
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