Light It Up (1999)

38% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(6,585 ratings)

Noted R&B artist and producer Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds served as executive producer for this tough urban drama. After a shooting incident in a neglected inner-city school leaves a police officer wounded, a group of students holds the cop hostage, in a desperate effort to force improvements to… More Noted R&B artist and producer Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds served as executive producer for this tough urban drama. After a shooting incident in a neglected inner-city school leaves a police officer wounded, a group of students holds the cop hostage, in a desperate effort to force improvements to their school. The cast includes another R&B hitmaker, Usher, as well as Forest Whitaker, Vanessa L. Williams, and Rosario Dawson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Craig Bolotin
Written By: Craig Bolotin
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jun 1, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Mar 6, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Vanessa Williams adds marquee value as a police negotiator.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The problem is the movie is too predictable--so predictable that it keeps it from truly generating suspense.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Bolotin repeatedly reminds the viewer of his lack of imagination.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Snuff it out!
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...isn't so much a bad movie as an unfinished movie
Clint Morris, Moviehole
"The Breakfast Club" in the Ghetto
Nick Carter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
It begins as a high school comedy romp and then abruptly turns into a TV cop show-caliber thriller.