Turn It Up MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -4

Making it out of the inner city ghetto is a tough proposition for many young black men, and Diamond (Pras) is no different. With dreams of becoming a star on the hip-hop music scene, Diamond struggles against the reality of poverty neighborhoods to keep his dream alive. Unfortunately, most of his moneymaking opportunities come in the form of drug deals and similar illegal activities. His best friend and manager Gage (Ja Rule) is adept at finding these opportunities, most of which come from Mr. B (Jason Statham), a slime-ball drug dealer in their neighborhood. Not only does Diamond find pressure from Gage, but his estranged father, Cliff (Vondie Curtis Hall), comes back into his life looking to repair their relationship. Added to the mix, Diamonds girlfriend Kia (Tamala Jones) is pregnant and putting pressure on him to do the right thing and be a father to his baby. The high points of TURN IT UP are the hip-hop soundtrack and the sleek look of the film. The story, while possibly an accurate reflection of life in the hood, mirrors the simplistic plot of clich TV movies.

The film does provide some insight to the plight of fatherless young men growing up in the inner city. The main characters are not only perfect examples of boys who have grown up without fathers, but also demonstrate how difficult it is to be mature and responsible men themselves. When Diamond hears the news of his girlfriends pregnancy, his initial reaction is to immediately want out, not realizing thats exactly what his father did to him. To his credit, Diamond eventually does the right thing, but it clearly shows the struggle he has to do so. The film implies one instance of sex with an unmarried girl and several women are shown wearing tight fitting or skimpy clothes. Reflecting the culture, however, foul language is extreme with 108 f-words and 54 s-words. One character displays a drug addiction, although he is looked down upon for his irresponsible behavior. Despite the portrayal of real life in the inner city with an extreme amount of foul language and acceptable portrayal of premarital sex, Preview recommends turning off TURN IT UP.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: New Line Cinema, 888 7th Ave., 20th Floor, NY, NY 10106