Roxanne Roxanne

Left as a footnote in music and hip hop history, when the film is at its best, it's a mold breaking biopic for its subject. At its worst, it's as unfocused as the teenage mind it inhabits.

Larnell gathers a wide cast of vital actors for a bustling series of incidents that veer quickly from the sentimental to the shattering.

Adams is able to bring Shant to life, but "Roxanne Roxanne" is so focused on personal details that the bigger picture is rendered blurry.

This movie is well acted, but it does seem to operate on a single, rather depressing note throughout. It would have helped if there was more of an emotional story arc to it. It ends not far emotionally from where it starts.