Drama. Starring Common, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton and Michael Rainey Jr. Directed by Sheldon Candis. (PG-13. 136 minutes.)

In terms of pure ensemble acting firepower, "Luv" rivals any movie released in 2012. Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover and Dennis Haysbert are complemented by what appears to be half the cast of "The Wire."

Sheldon Candis doesn't get starstruck, directing a scrappy coming-of-age drama that retains its tense pull on viewers, even as it unravels in the final act. The strength is in the performances and visual detail. The flaws are mostly in the script, which asks the youngest cast member to pull off a near-impossible transformation.

Multitalented rapper Common is Vincent, a man just released from prison who takes his elementary-school-age nephew Woody (Michael Rainey Jr.) out of school for a day to teach him how to be a man. Vincent is trying to do right, but willing to commit wrongs to meet his goals. He studied business in prison and maintained good relations with his criminal allies. But it's quickly apparent that he's not prepared for the world he has re-entered.

Candis has a wonderful grasp on the characters and the Baltimore community - Vincent's trip to get Woody a suit reveals more about their relationship than any amount of narration could. Common embraces the contradictions in his performance, remaining sympathetic even when it becomes clear that the child is the better role model of the pair. ("Flowers from the Earth, man - God own them," he says, after Woody questions his theft of a bouquet.)

The narrative falls apart when the audience is asked to swallow the skittish Woody's sudden transformation into a fast-thinking tough guy. He's learning to drive one moment and pulling getaway duty a few scenes later. He can't talk to girls, then outthinks a drug dealer. The operatic resolution doesn't help, offering almost none of the nuance that made the first parts a pleasure to watch.

None of the above is a knock against Candis and his abilities behind the camera. Some excellent artists - David Simon, Barry Levinson and John Waters - have documented Baltimore, and Candis has something new to add. Even with themes similar to Simon's work, "Luv" never feels like imitation.

Among "The Wire" alums, Michael K. Williams proves that his drug dealer-robbing Omar character could have been a pretty good detective as well. And Anwan Glover, the former Slim Charles, shows once again why he's a great narration choice for any filmmaker who can't afford Morgan Freeman or Sam Elliott.
