Enter the tense, exciting, dramatic world of … slam poetry. Yes, you heard right, slam poetry. It has got a powerful hold on young wordsmith Jake (Jeff Stearns), who’s encouraged by a poetry-loving bar owner, Gabriel (Fred Williamson), to compete in a “cutthroat” contest of expression. Though the packaging suggests he is the star, direct-to-video mainstay C. Thomas Howell has a supporting role in this Rocky-like fable—as do such varied performers as Fred Willard, Edward Albert and Michael Parks of Then Came Bronson fame. This fair-to-middling entertainment has novelty value and might appeal to the 18-to-25 crowd.

Shelf Talk: You could conceivably promote this so-so drama as the “8 Mile of slam poetry,” but that presupposes your clientele will know what slam poetry is, or cares. Having Howell on the box art will hardly inspire a rush to the cash register, but young adults in urban areas might take to this unusual offering.