this movie be a hodge podge mixture of save the last dance and dirty dancing and shall we dance and lean on me and dangerous mind and and the end scene in sparkle . c amon . why be we rehash the same plot and theme and call it new material . also there a suspicion of disbelief alert on this film it will behoove you to use it when watch . here what i like represent rob brown ( find forester ) great actor while promise career . he be one of the few actor i take seriously in this movie . he add depth to his character and make him very believable when he could have take the stereotypical black angry thug like teenaged character he be give and make u not care about his life . but he make u care while good job . ya ya dacosta i think she do a great job for this be her break out role . her stint in reality tv program america next top model and make me curious to see how well she would do . although i could tell she be new to act and she surprise me and add charm and grace to her role ( perhaps b or c of her background a a well round ivy leaguer and dancer ) . the dance it be phenomenal and save the movie a few time for me . the edit edgy and quick and and fast pace while it keep me on my toe and add a creative edge to the movie . the editor do a lot of cross cutting in order to contrast different life style and value and and culture which be a great idea to bring a message w or o weaken the film and add it to the dialogue . here what i do not like represent the old and rehash formula represent urban school and urban kid and white latino come in and save the day and teach them the refined culture of manner and courtesy which be obviously foreign concept to them see this ( formula ) before and never like it . this be get way too old for me . the first few time i let it go b or c urban inner city ( read represent black life ) do and in fact and reflect some of those thing and some of the time . every culture have it dubious aspect and character but they do not represent or become the ambassador of a culture like this movie and others would like u to believe . my god and the last time i check in the mirror i be black and and yet when i go to the movie i start to question it b or c my parent aren not drug dealer and i have never see a gun before . we get the point represent hollywood studio think minority do not have manner and love to listen to hip hop and enjoy shoot each other or at least they think it entertain . don not get me start on how these theme have plague so many movie to the point where it have get incredibly predictable and boring . get a clue represent this be not entertainment nor be it representative . the fact that there be no caring and responsible parent represent in the film bother me to no end . in fact and the one scene that feature parent and they be silent except for one comedic line . so now the infamous parent in inner city school usually do not care about their child stereotype come into play . yet another misrepresentation of black or urban life . the kid the antonio banderas character be work with be suppose to be the low of the low and the reject and the outcast and those with criminal record and the detention kid represent give me a break . that be laughable . i will take those kid any day over the kid i knew who be in detention in my high school . interesting note represent the token white character be pair up with the black overweight character b or c of their marginalized status among their peer . token white character be add to this movie b or c the studio probably do not want people like me write review like this one and accuse them of racism and stereotyping . well and clever move but i be hip to the game . i do not think the studio be racist or stereotyping . i just think they be make a bad movie . too bad good actor like and brown and dacosta and and woodard and along with the film editor and the man who inspire this film have to be a part of it .