Straight outta middle school and playing heavy metal gigs

Three very young Brooklyn musicians, performing on the streets of New York as Unlocking the Truth, found national audience via a YouTube video shot by a passerby, which led to appearances on big-time TV shows and, in 2014, a $1.8 million contract with Sony Music.

In addition to their age, the African American boys — Malcolm Brickhouse, Jarad Dawkins and Alec Atkins — are performing heavy metal music, an overwhelmingly white cultural phenomenon.

[...] there’s also an undeniable measure of talent, which has landed the boys gigs at festivals like the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (they are the youngest group ever to play there) and opportunities to back up the likes of Motörhead, Living Colour and Marilyn Manson.

How can you miss when showing how these 12- and 13-year-olds hooked up with whited-haired showbiz veteran Alan Sacks (co-creator of TV’s “Welcome Back Kotter,” in addition to many music-industry credits)?

Or when the boys coolly play games on their phones as they wait in Sony’s plush offices for a visit from executives who will put on the full-court press?

The film is modestly interesting as a portrayal of today’s music business, and more so in showing the inevitable dash of cold water as the boys are required to focus on travel schedules, musical coaching sessions and the not-always-welcome side effects of quick fame.

[...] while it doesn’t shy away from the subject, the movie also declines to press too hard on the message that there are distinct downsides to the entertainment racket (as the singer said, it’s just a job, you know?) and that second thoughts may be unavoidable.