Like Mike

20th Century Fox presents a film directed by John Schultz. Written by Michael Elliot and Jordan Moffet. Running time: 100 minutes. Rated PG (for brief mild language). Shad Moss, the 15-year-old rapper known as Lil' Bow Wow (he recently dropped the Lil'), has been telling writers interviewing him about his new movie Like Mike that acting comes easy and naturally to him. Several critics are saying the same thing. Megan Turner in the New York Post says that he makes a triumphant crossover into movies with this basketball Cinderella story, revealing a naturalistic acting style and a magnetic charm that the camera adores. Michael O'Sullivan in the Washington Post acknowledges that he fairly dreaded having to sit through the movie. That being said, I liked Like Mike, O'Sullivan writes, largely because of the outsize charm of its 4-foot-8-inch corn-rowed protagonist. Loren King in the Chicago Tribune proclaims: A screen star is born in pint-sized rapper Lil' Bow Wow. And Jami Bernard in the New York Daily News writes that Moss is a miniature Mr. Charisma, who should drop his day job immediately and go right into acting. The kid's got game. Not all the critics agree. Christy Lemire of the Associated Press comments: Bow Wow is a cute little pup and he has sufficient presence and basketball talent, but he should stick to his day job. Liam Lacey in the Toronto Globe & Mail calls him a handsome little guy with corn-row hair and a self-confident manner and no discernible acting ability. And Mike Clark in USA Today concludes: Diminutive rapper Bow Wow is better than a lot of non-actors who've wangled leads in major studio releases, but it's better not to oversell the earnest energy he brings to Like Mike.