Metacritic reviews

Much of Light It Up has a familiar feel. But there are enough redeeming insights to make the time you spend at this school worthwhile.

Heartbreaking and sometimes dazzlingly effective, the film still has flaws -- most of them in a too-often-maudlin script.

If I can't quite recommend the movie, it's because so much of the plot is on autopilot. The dialogue spells out too much that doesn't need to be said.

Look to the cast as the best reason to see this film.

It's a bit of 60s idealism wedged in what basically looks like a hip-hop music video.

The real find-- is Rosario Dawson, who has appeared to good effect in previous smaller roles ("Kids," "He Got Game") and just about walks off with the movie.

Turns out to be a pretentiously righteous drama that drowns any claim to serious attention in a sea of superficial characters.

Singer Usher Raymond earns praise as the leader of the group, but the rest of the cast goes largely unnoticed.

Light It Up would be a strong candidate for the year's most irresponsible movie - if it were remotely believable.

It's a hockey affair at the best of times.