Jem and the Holograms

"The film seems inexplicably embarrassed by its roots, instead serving up half-baked and self-consciously contemporary drama that no one in the sure-to-be minimal theatrical audience will remember quite so fondly some 30 years on."

"Every line, every twist and every note of music feels painstakingly focus-grouped."

"It seems to be merely tossing ideas into the pot that it thinks might appeal to 9-year-olds."

"This movie sure means well, and it's just entertaining enough to (slightly) slip off the shackles of the great cultural conformity factory it ultimately represents."

"In revisiting the pop rock quest of a multiracial group of adopted sisters in suburban California, Chu has made a stylish and self-aware musical fantasy for the YouTube generation."

"A highly flawed, occasionally dumb, but fascinating blast of neon, revisionist girl power, and social media wanderlust."

"Not being part of the generation that watched the show, I can't vouch for its merits. But it's safe to say that it must be miles ahead of this wan, bloated screen version which forgoes the original's sci-fi and thriller aspects."