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Movies / On DVD / Turn It Up
Turn It Up

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Turn It Up (2000)

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Reviews Counted:38

Fresh:3

Rotten:35

Average Rating:3.4/10

Consensus: Reviewers say Turn It Up has a derivative feel, running through too many urban movie cliches.

Runtime: 87 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Box Office: $738,654

Synopsis: Rapper Pras Michel (of the Fugees) stars in this tale of a gifted young musician with big dreams. Partially based on Pras's autobiographical book and album GHETTO SUPASTAR, the story also features... Rapper Pras Michel (of the Fugees) stars in this tale of a gifted young musician with big dreams. Partially based on Pras's autobiographical book and album GHETTO SUPASTAR, the story also features other real-life musicians, such as Ja Rule, Faith Evans, Bootsy Collins (who plays himself), Harry-O, and MTV host DJ Skribble. Pras is Diamond, who's involved in the drug world with his childhood best friend Gage (Ja Rule), but wants to get out and be legitimate in order to to pursue his musical career. Gage believes in Diamond, but knows they need money to get anywhere, and he's willing to do anything to get it. His impulsive hotheadedness soon gets both men into more trouble than they can handle, compounded when Diamond's girlfriend announces she's pregnant. When Diamond's estranged father comes back into his life after the sudden death of his mother, they find common ground in the music they both love. But Diamond's pulled in two directions: toward his dreams, his girl, and his family, and toward his loyalty to his best friend. TURN IT UP is a gritty, realistic portrayal of urban life and undying dreams. [More]

Starring: Pras Michel, Ja Rule, Lauryn Hill, Vondie Curtis-Hall

Starring: Pras Michel, Ja Rule, Lauryn Hill, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Wyclef Jean, Tamala Jones

Director: Robert Adetuyi

Director: Robert Adetuyi
Screenwriter: Robert Adetuyi
Producer: Guy Oseary

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Mar 20, 2001

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Turn It Up

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Gerry Gallo
Gerry Gallo
Hollywood.com

Turn It Up is a hip-hop downer that makes the high-risk high-life of contempo gangstas seem glumly routine.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/06/08
Robert Koehler
Robert Koehler
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
03/05/07
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In the final analysis it's more exploitative than uplifting.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
07/24/06
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
07/04/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/04/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

It lacks characters engaging enough to keep us involved.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
10/21/02
Jean Lowerison
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan

Never aspires to be more than an excuse for Pras and Ja Rule to flash their ultra-sleek MTV fashions for 90 minutes.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
03/21/01
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
Filmcritic.com

It lacks the originality and integrity that might have allowed the movie to breakout from the pack rather than sticking with it.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
03/21/01
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide

Used to be called Ghetto Superstar, but it should've been called Ghetto Stereotype -- 'cause it's full of 'em.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online

Turn It Up is just a well-intentioned, second-rate indie film that should never have gotten widespread distribution.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Even the soundtrack ... sounds like leftovers.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Barsanti
Chris Barsanti
Citysearch

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.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
01/01/00
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

Riddled with every cliché in the book, Turn It Up is an inert, senselessly violent cinematic non-experience.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

Pras and Rule look good, and handle their guns smoothly in the movie's elaborate shootouts, but there's nothing in their eyes, no spark or passion.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Edward Guthmann
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Ernest Hardy
Ernest Hardy
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Plays through every cliche imaginable with its clunky dialogue.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

The staging and performances are awkward, the frequent shoot-outs a snore, and there's no reprise of Ghetto Supastar.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jessica Winter
Jessica Winter
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The whole tie-in with crime and 'gangstas' has been covered so many times in rap music videos that the film ends up feeling like recycled tripe.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

This was one long and very bad music video.

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review
 
 
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