In a perfect world, a movie version of Teri Woods' novel 'True to the Game' would be a bigger deal. Woods' pulp thriller has reportedly sold more than 2 million copies since the '90s and pioneered a new literary form: a cross between gangster melodrama, glamorous romance and hip-hop-scored slice-of-life.

Erica Peeples is Gena, a college student who becomes romantically entangled with well-meaning drug lord Quadir (Columbus Short). The episodic plot borders on the scattered, as Gena and Quadir and their various friends, family members and associates get in each other's way.

'True to the Game' director Preston A. Whitmore II and screenwriter Nia Hill don't have a big enough budget to give this story the scale it needs; and aside from veteran actress Vivica A. Fox, the cast is nowhere near accomplished enough to bring a bestseller to life. The movie relies a lot on flatly staged shootouts and narrative contrivances, coupled with trite tough-guy poses.

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That said, Whitmore and Hill do their best to keep the book's fine detail, allowing the characters to talk at length about their dreams, their faith and their loved ones, in nightclubs and apartments that look lived-in. The movie has enough of Woods' flavor to put a memorable spin on a familiar genre — so much so that it's almost a crime it isn't better.

Rating: R, for violence, drug content, sexuality and nudity, and pervasive language

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Yearning to watch 'True to the Game' in the comfort of your own home? Discovering a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Preston Whitmore II-directed movie via subscription can be a huge pain, so we here at Moviefone want to do the work for you.
Read on for a listing of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription alternatives - along with the availability of 'True to the Game' on each platform. Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty of how you can watch 'True to the Game' right now, here are some particulars about the At Eaze Music Group, Imani Motion Pictures drama flick.
Released September 8th, 2017, 'True to the Game' stars Erica Peeples, Vivica A. Fox, Nelsan Ellis, Nafessa Williams The R movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 48 min, and received a score of (out of 100) on Metacritic, which put together reviews from experienced critics.
Interested in knowing what the movie's about? Here's the plot: 'A tale of love, sex and drugs.'
'True to the Game' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on VUDU, Amazon.com, and Netflix .