Chantel, an African-American girl of 17, has dreams, which is more then one can say for those around her. Just on the edge of her high school years she is surrounded by people who have resigned themselves to a life of hanging out on the street corner.
Chantel wants a future being admired for her brain. She dreams of medical school, a husband and children and a home away from the hood. But then something unexpected happens. Chantel's future is put on hold when she becomes pregnant by her boyfriend.
The movie has some wonderful ideas. The problem is that Chantel is so hateful that it is hard to care about her plight. It is easy to understand that she would be angry and frustrated at the prospect of having to curb her dreams but she is so unpleasant to watch that it is hard for the viewer to get close to her. I don't think that every movie has to have likable characters to work, but in this case it seems essential.
I was reminded of another film 'Shallow Grave' about three hateful Scots trying to steal a million dollars. In that film as with this one it depends on whether or not we care about the people involved and in both cases we don't.
Chantel wants a future being admired for her brain. She dreams of medical school, a husband and children and a home away from the hood. But then something unexpected happens. Chantel's future is put on hold when she becomes pregnant by her boyfriend.
The movie has some wonderful ideas. The problem is that Chantel is so hateful that it is hard to care about her plight. It is easy to understand that she would be angry and frustrated at the prospect of having to curb her dreams but she is so unpleasant to watch that it is hard for the viewer to get close to her. I don't think that every movie has to have likable characters to work, but in this case it seems essential.
I was reminded of another film 'Shallow Grave' about three hateful Scots trying to steal a million dollars. In that film as with this one it depends on whether or not we care about the people involved and in both cases we don't.