The Fighting Temptations (Full Screen Edition)
by Jonathan Lynn
from Paramount
The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon
Gospel
by Frederick A. Ritzenberg
from Monterey Video
Hallelujah! How better to respond to this wonderful document than with some measure of the joy and passion displayed by the participants? Filmed at Oakland, California's Paramount Theater, the 1982 film brings together some of gospel music's heavy hitters (including the Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, the Hawkins Family, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy). And folks, there is some serious testifying going on here, both onstage and in the audience, as one performer after another does his or her best to tear the roof off the sucker. Don't be deceived by the gospel moniker. Take this music out of the pew and into the pub, and you've got Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown--that's how good some of these singers are. And if righteous rave-ups like the Hawkins' "Right On" and Cleveland's "Determined to Make Heaven My Home" don't get you moving, consider investing in a defibrillator. --Sam Graham
The Fighting Temptations (Widescreen Edition)
by Jonathan Lynn
from Paramount
The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon
The Unseen
by Lisa France
from Well Go USA
UNSEEN THE (DVD MOVIE)
The Fighting Temptations [Region 2]
The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon
+++