Well-meaning and earnest, "School Ties" (citywide) moves through its measured paces with dogged predictability.

The boys put in fine performances but sadly the script lacks the depth of what could have been a challenging story.

This is a bewildering mixture of fairly accomplished storytelling, awkward contrivances in the script, and lies in the overall conception so egregious they undercut any pretensions the film might have to social seriousness.

"School Ties" seems unlikely to capture the audience that made a hit of "Dead Poets Society."