Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Get Rich or Die Tryin', the semi-autobiographical big-screen debut of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, is just about what you'd expect. It's absolutely 8 Mile Part Deux, but this film won't turn a single head the way Eminem's semi-autobiographical big-screen debut did three years ago. Fiddy's personal history is old news at this point. We all know that he sold crack before he became famous and that he got hit with a few slugs, yet he proudly soldiers on and doesn't find it necessary to walk with a limp. Despite the fact that we pretty much know the plot in advance, Get Rich does prove to be mildly entertaining and only sinks down to the realm of unwatchable about 50 percent of the time.

Coming into this film, the big question on the tip of everyone's tongue is- when will Mr. Cent finally make his debut on The OC?! But, seriously, if you're wondering whether or not Fiddy can act (the actual big question), the answer to that is no. But, hey, I'm no good at getting shot in the face and going on to become a superstar rapper. God only gives us so many gifts, grasshopper.

Jackson's performance is frequently stilted, but he does blindside you with a few moments of genuine emotion and easy-going charm. He's a charismatic artist certainly; he just doesn't have this whole acting thing down just yet. My advice? Go rent co-star and Get Rich's major bright spot Terrence Howard's own gangsta-turned-rapper flick, Hustle and Flow, to see a much more compelling version of this story.