This Halloween weekend marked the opening of a new Wes Craven movie. But it doesn't feature shrieking sorority girls running away from a ghoulish murderer, and neither the Swamp Thing nor Freddie Krueger makes an appearance. Taking their place is Meryl Streep, and without any makeup, she probably scares more children, too.
Based on the life of violin teacher Roberta Guaspari (Streep), "Music of the Heart" follows her successful attempts to teach the difficult instrument to an equally tough constituency: elementary school students in East Harlem. The "devoted-teacher-trying-to-make-a-difference-in-inner-city-kids'-lives" motif recalls any number of films, including "Dangerous Minds" and "Lean on Me," but as "Music of the Heart" progresses, it melts the icy cynicism brought on by this familiar story. The combination of music, endearing youngsters and a glowing performance by Streep proves truly uplifting and could touch even the surliest viewers. While it's not likely to warrant sobs, it should leave you ... misty.
But "Music of the Heart" doesn't transcend the chick-flick genre, often falling victim to maudlin, overly melodramatic touches. For instance, while the subplot about Guaspari's love life offsets the teaching angle, its conclusion is immediately transparent: Viewers can see how it will turn out with the clarity of a soothsayer.
And although screenwriter Pamela Gray presumably didn't know she would be working with Craven, her far-fetched writing may have been more appropriate for "Scream 3." She connects the story with a stream of just-in-the-nick-of-time flukes, making the film hard to believe even though it is based on a true story. From Guaspari finding the perfect man through a classified ad that her sons so charmingly put in the paper to miraculously nabbing Itzhak Perlman to play at her benefit concert, Gray makes "Music" feel awfully forced at times.
The movie begins uneventfully and predictably - Guaspari is seen sobbing as her marriage falls apart, the first of many opportunities for Streep to exercise her tear ducts. Fortunately, she soon runs into a high school friend, Brian Sinclair (Aidan Quinn), who finds her a job as a music teacher in East Harlem. With two sons and 50 violins in tow, Guaspari shuffles off to the 'hood. Overcoming the adversities of raising her kids alone in the racially tense ghetto, Guaspari manages to craft a successful music program.
After an abrupt 10-year jump ahead, the audience sees that Guaspari has taught over 1,000 kids how to play the violin and has raised her sons to be well-adjusted musicians. "Music" ends with Guaspari overcoming a school board budget cut by holding a fund-raiser concert at Carnegie Hall with her fourth-graders - perhaps the best and most inspirational scene in the movie, even though it makes you shake your head at its improbability.
Despite a star-studded supporting cast, including Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan and Jane Leeves of "Frasier," only Streep can overcome the melodramatic script. Her sincere, intense performance steals the show, even though it's sometimes hard to get past her strangely chiseled features and the 20 pounds she gained for the part. And most important, Streep's transformation of the children from apathetic underachievers who sound like shrieking cats into confident and disciplined musicians is truly heartwarming.
Though Craven isn't the best choice to direct this material, he gives the film a grainy, washed-out look, capturing the murky grimness of the Harlem streets. Similarly, Estefan's contributions to the soundtrack are slightly out of place, but nonetheless provide some upbeat Latin flair.
"Music of the Heart" is a feel-good movie that may spawn unpleasant feelings about Hollywood's lack of imagination. It swells with more sentimentality than a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, and compels you to care about each character. After the lights go up comes the realization that the film is in fact quite corny. But it packs enough power to move you, even if you know how this familiar story goes.
Grade: B-
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