The singing, music and dancing numbers were as impressive as one would expect. But the movie's format was wholly unconventional--rather than focusing on a few key characters in the classic, 3-act approach (introducing them, showing adversity and then showing resolution), the film focused on more like 10 characters. Time was shown passing primarily by the use of captions on a black screen ("FRESHMAN YEAR", "SOPHOMORE YEAR", etc.).
Most disappointing was that given the large cast, we never get to know any character well; the adversity depicted also seems less-than-convincing.
Asher Brooks and Naturi Naughton shine, and so does Kherington Payne, although Payne definitely comes across as a woman among children.