|
The Fighting Temptations
|
| |
 |
USA, 2003. Rated PG-13. 123 minutes.
Cast:
Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyoncé Knowles, Mike Epps, Latanya Richardson,
Steve Harvey, T-Bone, Wendell Pierce, Rue McClanahan, Melba Moore, Faith
Hill, Ann Nesby
Writers: Elizabeth Hunter (screenplay & story), Salad K. Patterson
(story)
Original Music: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James "Big Jim" Wright
Cinematography: Affonso Beato
Producers: David Gale, Loretha C. Jones, Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack
Director: Jonathan Lynn
LINKS
|
he
Fighting Temptations is like an in-joke: a person who is not of the same
cultural background as the characters in the film won't get the joke. To such
a person The Fighting Temptations will be a congregation of clichés,
but those who are of the southern, African-American Baptist community portrayed
in this movie will see it as something more: an honest portrayal of a culture
that's been poorly represented in the cinema.
I'm not referring to the African-American community in general; specifically,
I speak of the southern African-American Baptist church, which has been relegated
to energetic gospel choir cameos and absurd laughs. Granted, the smoldering
charismatic (or "Spirit-filled") hijinks of the church can be ridiculous (in
particular to those who don't fancy kinetic worship) and the church does have
its fair share of hypocrites, yet something is loveable about this sometimes-bizarre
culture. This lovability, coupled with the insanity, is what The Fighting
Temptations captures, and is what makes The Fighting Temptations
successful.
Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé Knowles get close
and sing in The Fighting Temptations |
The film is obviously not free from the gospel tag: it is all about gospel
and the importance of gospel (or, simply, good music) in the church. The title
refers to the choir created by Darrin (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a junior advertising
executive who agrees to direct the choir of his home church in Montecarlo, Georgia,
to success at a gospel competition in hopes that he'll gain a large inheritance
from his late aunt. His motives are unemployment and debt, and that he cannot
show his face in New York City without being thrown in jail. Upon returning
home, Darrin pathologically lies to impress the lowly southern folk—including
Lily (Beyoncé Knowles), a good singer with a bad reputation—that
he's more successful than he is. Eventually, as in all feel-good films, the
rag-tag choir and the down-in-the-dumps executive improve each other's well
being.
The wonderful music is the centerpiece of the movie. With the exception of
the gospel contest entry (which is in itself a fine song, but ill-suited for
the scene), each song and number is exciting and fun. The best are the "spontaneous"
jam sessions in a barber shop (sung by the O-Jays) and the post-practice session
in which "Down By The Riverside" becomes a rap.
The performances, on the other hand, are not as appealing as the songs. Cuba
Gooding, Jr., makes for a disappointing lead. He is stiff and uncomfortable,
and while it works when his character is lying, it does not work when he's honest
or comfortable with his environment. Knowles, in her second film, manages ably
as Lily. She's most appealing while singing—not at all surprising. The
other singers who have minor roles in this film (The O-Jays and Angie Stone,
among others) don't have enough time to impress. Steve Harvey, as a small-town
radio DJ, turns in the most memorable performance.
The Fighting Temptations isn't deep artistically or theologically. Its
commentary on hypocrites, sin, and redemption is transparent, though certainly
feel-good and theologically sound. The "...and they lived happily ever after"
ending is bound to irk cynics, though these are the people who should abstain
from the film if they are not able to leave their cynicism at the door. But
if you can settle for light entertainment, and enjoy a good song regardless
the message, The Fighting Temptations won't disappoint.
Review
© October 2003 by AboutFilm.Com and the author.
Images © 2003 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
Comment
on this review on the boards
