To be honest, YES we have seen this plot before with inner city struggles and the rise to fame. But THIS time; it has a different flavor, especially with the Reggaeton / Rapping element added. Omarion Grandberry plays a troubled teen (Rob) with super stardom aspirations who has to go live in Puerto Rico with his estranged Father (Roberto) and his new wife due to a run in with some gang members.
It's a movie about pain, redemption, finding yourself and ultimately going for your dreams against the mounting odds against you. It's a HUMAN story filled with real life situations that a lot of us in the inner city have gone through, ARE going through, or know someone with the same struggle. Most people won't be able to swallow this movie if they think it's a super sappy romance or an edgy rap battle movie with NOTHING but dancing / breaking. (This is NOT You Got Served! XD)
Omarion is convincing as a rapper, and in the side-plots you can feel his grief and anger towards his Father and his overall frustration at being thrust from his hometown into a new environment that seems foreign to him. (Not to mention Zulay as Cici doesn't hurt as the gorgeous and talented eye candy who is seeking to fulfill her dancing dream.) As time goes on he is enveloped in the culture and we see the bond between him and his step-brother and a love-interest grows.
The kissing scene / love scene was rather awkward to me and I didn't feel the chemistry but other then that; the dancing was bomb, the grainy lens and visual effects were minimal yet appropriate and pretty soon you'll find the storyline just sucking you in from scene to scene. (Not to mention THE BEAUTIFUL scenic landscapes that are Puerto Rico!)
But I definitely recommend this movie! (Really. Ignore the bad reviews. Most of them are tactless and rushed.) 'FTN' possesses a plot that HAS been seen before but with the rich acting and lovely cast-choices in this movie MORE than make up for that. Besides, it's Omarion's debut role by himself on the big screen. You can't miss that!
It's a movie about pain, redemption, finding yourself and ultimately going for your dreams against the mounting odds against you. It's a HUMAN story filled with real life situations that a lot of us in the inner city have gone through, ARE going through, or know someone with the same struggle. Most people won't be able to swallow this movie if they think it's a super sappy romance or an edgy rap battle movie with NOTHING but dancing / breaking. (This is NOT You Got Served! XD)
Omarion is convincing as a rapper, and in the side-plots you can feel his grief and anger towards his Father and his overall frustration at being thrust from his hometown into a new environment that seems foreign to him. (Not to mention Zulay as Cici doesn't hurt as the gorgeous and talented eye candy who is seeking to fulfill her dancing dream.) As time goes on he is enveloped in the culture and we see the bond between him and his step-brother and a love-interest grows.
The kissing scene / love scene was rather awkward to me and I didn't feel the chemistry but other then that; the dancing was bomb, the grainy lens and visual effects were minimal yet appropriate and pretty soon you'll find the storyline just sucking you in from scene to scene. (Not to mention THE BEAUTIFUL scenic landscapes that are Puerto Rico!)
But I definitely recommend this movie! (Really. Ignore the bad reviews. Most of them are tactless and rushed.) 'FTN' possesses a plot that HAS been seen before but with the rich acting and lovely cast-choices in this movie MORE than make up for that. Besides, it's Omarion's debut role by himself on the big screen. You can't miss that!