Director François Girard does a nice job of moving the plot from A to B but, like the beautiful music featured on the soundtrack, is a bit too harmonious, too conventional in the telling of the story.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 2, 2021

Both trite and tired, Boychoir leaves much to be desired.

| Dec 8, 2020

Despite some likeable moments and perhaps future iTunes success, too much of this film is mediocre and, despite all efforts, emotionally monotonal.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 7, 2019

A lovely, hollow thing. Hoping to reap the rewards of otherwise fallow land in the arena of adolescent drama, this film is be best considered as a safe, warm family film.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2019

It is formulaic and predictable. Yet, as is often the case with many films of this ilk, it is saved from ignominious and meaningless sentimentality thanks to the impressive ensemble cast and in this case, its beautiful and soul-lifting soundtrack.

| Feb 22, 2019

Their professionalism is palpable, and the young cast, led by Garrett Wareing as Stet, does a good job. None of them, however, can save the movie from its own formulas, which cause it to miss the potential of what it might have been.

| Jan 11, 2018

Some of the choral singing is wonderful but neither the cliche-laden screenplay nor one or two crucial supporting performances really convince in a film in which Hoffman, as the choirmaster, seems both peripheral and wasted.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 30, 2017

The story arc is utterly predictable and its elements seem to have been assembled from a flat pack.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 27, 2016

This poor man's Whiplash never quite conveys the depths of its protagonists' struggles.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 2, 2016

[Boychoir] isn't quite an 'Inspirational Teacher Drama' (think Dead Poets Society), as it's more interested in family, how we nurture the gifts we're given, and the redemptive power of music.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 31, 2015

While occasionally enjoyable this hits too many bum notes.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 31, 2015

Director Francois Girard, who has made several other musically themed films, including "The Red Violin," has made a predictable movie here, with a by-the-numbers storyline.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 22, 2015

Boychoir has everything except the speech where someone says, "You're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a clich," or however it goes.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 12, 2015

The script may be formulaic, but the ending hits some unexpectedly melancholy notes and the music - a mix of Handel, Britten, Tallis and Mendelssohn - always soars.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 26, 2015

Manipulative and unabashedly sentimental, The Choir carries loud echoes of other better movies.

| Jul 16, 2015

The notes of this tune are tear-jerkingly familiar, and there's never any doubt about the final chorus, replete with a descant line of convenient illness and last-minute substitution.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 12, 2015

Sure, the plot points are in place - mother's alcoholism, mother's death, father's rejection - but the film spends all of 30 seconds on each arc, successfully draining Stet's story of any poignancy and passion.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 10, 2015

If you're looking for a harmless crowd-pleaser, this will fit the bill.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 9, 2015

Giving every impression of not knowing what day it is, or what year, Dustin Hoffman sleepwalks his way through this passionless, pompous film ...

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 9, 2015

Imagine Whiplash chewed up and regurgitated as a series of smirking, sanctimonious Hallmark greetings cards.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 9, 2015