Dir.
Jonathan Lynn, 2003, USA, 123 mins
Cast: Cuba Gooding, Jnr, Beyonce Knowles, Mike Epps, Rue McClanahan
Following in the footsteps of Sister Act and School of Rock, The Fighting Temptations is the latest in the 'Underdog With a Heart of Gold Must Lead Mistfit Group of Tuneless Singers to Victory in the Next Really Important Choir Contest' genre.
Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding, Jnr, Jerry McGuire) finds himself 'lucked out' in New York City. His career as an advertising executive is based, fittingly, on a bed of lies and distortions. But when he's found out as a fake and fired, his looming bankruptcy threatens to put an end to his charmed lifestyle once and for all.
Then his Aunt Sally dies, and he's dragged back to the southern hicksville that he and his mother (Faith Evans) were run out of years before. He stands to inherit $150,000 - but only if he can lead the church choir to victory at the Gospel Explosion contest. Holding him back is a band of well-meaning but tone-deaf singers, not to mention the malevolent Paulina, the preacher's domineering sister, who's been dying to lead the choir for years.
Darrin can't wait to get back to the big city, but the money is understandably a bigger lure. Then he meets a childhood friend, Lilly (Beyoncé Knowles, Destiny's Child) who just happens to be a bootylicious nightclub singer with a voice like an x-rated angel: her rendition of 'Fever' only just stays this side of a PG-certificate. Darrin gets to work on bagging Lilly for the choir (while also hoping to bag her for himself at the same time). But as a single mother and a RnB singer like Darrin's mother, she's been scarred by so-called Christian attitudes towards her and her son. In order to get her Darrin has to lie - once again - about who and what he is, saying he's a top music producer.
The best thing about this film is the music - no wonder it's attracted a host of musicians and actors eager for cameos, from Faith Evans and T-Bone to Steve Harvey ('The Steve Harvey Show') and Rue Mclanahan ('The Golden Girls'). The gospel element is strong and emotional; equally impressive is the range of music styles showcased, from barbershop to hip-hop.
Not so great at times is the acting by child stars and cameo artists alike, but (while not so many belly-laughs) there are plenty of funny and feel-good moments to compensate. Characters drive this film, even if they do tend to fall a little on the clichéd side, from player Lucius (Mike Epps) to battleaxe Paulina (Latanya Richardson). Others such as Steve Harvey's Miles the DJ are sure to become cult favourites. Beyoncé, by the way, shines as Lilly.
There's not much original about this film - you can play spot the plot as you watch (Sister Act, Doc Hollywood, The Colour Purple to name three) - but it certainly sports a cheeky grin as it does it, and it just about gets away with it. What is a disappointment, however, is the fall-back on tried and tested easy-endings, from Cuba getting the girl to winning the choir contest - these will be no shock surprise to anyone watching the film, so I haven't really spoiled it for you! One argument would be that this is the kind of film that is predictable, so just let you sit back and enjoy the ride. In that spirit, this is reasonable enough fare.
Those who committed themselves to the film are keen to stress its deeper aspects, from themes of Community to a celebration of the 'black' contribution to popular music; themes are of course a big part of the film. Getting back to your roots and being true to yourself and where you came from are also evident themes. But whether they are enough to save this from being a likeable but ultimately ham-fisted comedy remains to be seen.
Ruth Bushi
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