Filly Brown

A routine music business cautionary tale, the film shuffles its decks ever so slightly by casting a Latino actress as its lead, but doesn't do enough to shed the exasperating confines of the star-is-born genre.

Sure, we've all seen this story before, but that doesn't hamper this film from being enormously entertaining, with riveting performances, great beats, and poetic rhymes.

More heartfelt, humanistic, and entertaining than such a clichéd showbiz cautionary tale has any right to be.

Almost despite our will, the cast keeps us invested in Filly's furious resurrection.

Unfortunately, the film is marred by a story, situations and stereotypical characters that strike all-too-familiar chords.

A trite piece of storytelling, with character development and plot points that feel not so much lived in as borrowed from other movies.

However much earnest commitment and passion that the cast lend to their roles, it ultimately cannot overcome the routine structure and approach to the overall execution.

The movie works best as a showcase for Rodriguez, transcending its simplistic script and clichéd plot in snatches -- when its leading lady is at the mike and especially in the film's final awkward family reunion.

Young hip-hop artist sacrifices her true identity for fame.

There's no essential truthfulness to Majo's emotional journey.