Music of the Heart tells a terrific story of passion, and music, and success. The problem with this film is that director Wes Craven is so intent on telling the story, its very seamlessness becomes a drawback. In short, this movie is too much Hollywood and not enough grit.

The film is based on the true story of Roberta Guaspari, a violin teacher in East Harlem. The film begins as Roberta discovers that her husband has gone, leaving her with two young sons to raise. A gifted violinist, Roberta had squashed her musical aspirations in deference to her husband's career in the navy. But now that she desperately needs a job, an old school rind pushes Roberta to rekindle her passion for the violin by teaching it.

The school friend, played by Aiden Quinn, knows a teacher in Harlem, who begrudgingly gives Roberta a job. It's tough going at first, but gradually she wins over the kids, and the program takes off. Jump forward ten years, to the present time, where ironically, Roberta's program is a huge success, yet it's threatened by budgetary constraints.

Intermingled with the heartwarming "music conquers all" theme, is Roberta's struggle with romance. Oddly enough, the film spends a lot of time on the wooing of Roberta, but to little avail. Similarly, much time is spent on finding Roberta a home, another theme that is dropped seemingly mid-stream.

It should not be forgotten that this film is based on a true story, and many moments do indeed ring true. My favorite, one that gave me goosebumps, is when the kids take the stage and perform the first time, perfectly in tune and with breath-taking discipline. Yes, Music of the Heart conveys well the thrill and excitement of bringing kids to music and music to kids.

So while the inclusion of the various stages of Roberta's life are likely authentic, there's an almost obligatory feel to their telling, such that the film reads too much like other "teacher makes good stories" to be as effective as it should be.

The light of the film is Meryl Street, who manages to underplay the role of Roberta. Streep gives her all to the role, but without preaching or sinking to the level of Richard Dreyfus's wretched grandstanding in Mr. Holland's Opus. Angel Bassett is not so skillful in the role of Roberta's boss and principal of the school. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and she's sinking fast. Then there's Gloria Estefan who I thought spoke both of her lines very well.

So let me be clear, I liked Music of the Heart. It's a heart-warming film with an important message. I spent 10 years of my life as a music educator, and the thought that music ed. might be cut from the school curricula is inconceivable to me. My beef with Music of the Heart is that I wish it had been less polished and slickly told. A few bumps might help to authenticate the story. Perhaps the final song illustrates by point. The message of the film is that music should have a place in education today, and yet the credits roll to the belting strains of a popular song liberally splashed with the lyrics "music of the heart." Why not let the credits roll to some spectacular music of the great masters, dead white men though they be?