Ace black director Spike Lee found that this semi-autobiographical comedy drama in early-1970s Brooklyn enjoyed less acclaim than many of his pictures - hence its straight-to-video status in the UK. Although it's obviously personally felt at an intense level, there's less impact than there should be in Lee's story (written with his brother and sister) about a nine-year-old girl (Zelda Harris) who struggles to hold her own with her four brothers. Alfre Woodard effortlessly steals what acting honours are going as the girl's teacher mother who finds her efforts to keep order undermined by her laid-back jazz-musician husband (Delroy Lindo). The music-overladen movie is exceptionally raucous, untidy and poorly structured - oddly so as Lee's film-making skills are now so polished - but it's saved by some vivacious moments just brimming with life.

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