Blinded by the Light

Most of the film's emotional weight is undermined by cheesy sing-alongs with the lyrics visualized in such a garish way that the supposed thematic significance bashes the audience in the head.

The film feels authentic in its depiction both of Javed's family but also the changes that took place after what seems to have been akin to a religious conversion.

The deliberately amateurish style of the musical numbers is supposed to engender spontaneity but too often looks merely cack-handed. Nonetheless, you come out on a high. Springsteen fever proves to be contagious.

While it's far from perfect, on balance, it's an inoffensive, feel-good and inspirational British dramedy with some charming performances and an emotionally affecting story about an immigrant teenager and how he finds salvation in Springsteen's music.

Much of the film plays out in a predictable, if charming, way.

Despite its predictability, it conveys what it's like to be enraptured by a rock idol.

Gurinder Chadhra's Springsteen-inspired Blinded by the Light a wildly entertaining, inspiring, much needed film about "the best of human values".

A strange brew of ‘feel good’ entertainment, touching character drama, and social commentary.

Blinded by the Light has her familiar distinctive touch, and the sly but generous humour typical of Chadha. She has a knack for keeping it light even though her focus is the on tricky subjects...

A derivative and uninspired adaptation of Sarfraz Manzoor's memoir, which sands off any of the edges of the material in favour of mainstream accessibility. The film's inability to commit to its status as a musical is frustrating