The comedy doesn't pay off in this story that has pretensions to deal with serious issues. Still, the thing may be worth seeing, if only because it's the only movie that attempts to look behind the scenes of an urban high school.

Fails to communicate its message of social concern and it winds up looking as frenzied and juvenile as every other teen exploitation flick.

Nolte is always interesting to watch. Had they not been detained with an elementary-school script, both he and the picture would have fared better.

It’s too often painfully obvious in its implications and heavy-handed in its delivery, but that’s countered by the assembly of an exceptional cast as well as the prevalence of themes that remain relevant.