Cinema release for Mariah movie

Carey performs the ballad Right to Dream in Tennessee

US pop star Mariah Carey's latest film will be released in December, seven years after her disastrous first movie, Glitter, was widely panned by critics.

The singer's latest film, a road trip drama called Tennessee, had its premiere at this spring's Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Carey plays a waitress whose dreams of a singing career have been dashed by a bad marriage.

Adam Rothenberg and Ethan Peck also star in the film.

'Surprisingly subdued'

The BBC's Mark Savage, who watched the film at the Cannes Film Festival where it was previewed, said: "Amazingly, Mariah is the best thing in it."

He added: "Carey is so good, in fact, that the film feels rather flat when she's off-screen."

Aaron Woodley, from Time Out New York magazine, said of the film: "Carey is surprisingly subdued here.

"She mostly keeps her celebrity complex at bay, allowing her to effectively embody her level headed Southern-gal character."

Although the movie is not a musical, it is does feature Carey singing the ballad Right to Dream, which she co-wrote with Willie Nelson.

Glitter earned just $4.3 million (£2.4 million) at the North American box office when it was released in 2001.

Carey appeared as herself in this summer's comedy You Don't Mess with the Zohan.