It's a crack at the American Dream which carries all the exhilaration and depth of a 133-minute commercial break.
– ,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
fresh:
A genuine treasure, moving and entertaining.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
23 Oct 2004
fresh:
Alan Parker has come up with an exposure for some of the most talented youngsters seen on screen in years. There isn't a bad performance in the lot.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
9 Jun 2008
rotten:
The film is cut at such a frenzied pitch that it's often possible to believe (mistakenly) that something significant is going on.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
8 Sep 2010
rotten:
Every once in a while what appears to be the entire student body pours out into the street to do song-and-dance numbers, some of which are cheerful enough, but all of which break faith with the film's realistic premise.