Jami Bernard
Gary Dretzka
Leonard Klady
David Poland
Doug Pratt
Ray Pride
Stu VanAirsdale
..Gary
Dretzka
..Leonard
Klady
..David
Poland
..Ray
Pride
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There's no denying that The Fighting Temptations has the sort of cornball, simplistic elements of movies from the 1930s that seamed appropriate to that era but have generally aged poorly. Granted, sagas involving characters that stray and are returned to the fold are older than Bible tales and, when told well, still deliver an effective emotional punch. Though the charms of this musical, comedy-drama aren't lofty, they are nonetheless charms delivered simply and with the gusto of fun to be had, songs to be sung and everybody on and off screen smiling as the end credits roll.
Unlike the Thomas Wolfe dicta, in the movies you can go home again. Darrin Fox (Cuba Gooding Jr.) wasn't even a teenager when his mother was given the choice of the choir or pursuing a "godless" career singing rhythm, blues and jazz. She chose the latter and took the next train out of her small Georgia town with her young son. Almost a quarter century later, Darrin is on the make at a Manhattan advertising agency. However, just when it looks like he's clinched a big promotion, it's discovered that his Ivy League portfolio was printed at Kinkos.
But at that fortuitous moment, Darrin receives the call that his beloved Aunt Sally has died and he's expected back for the funeral and reading of the will (his mother had an untimely death several years earlier). So, he sidesteps the repo men and hops a train headin' South.
It's an admittedly cumbersome set up to get to the gist of the film. Aunt Sally bequeaths him $150,000 in stock on the condition that he take over her duties as local choir master and qualify for the annual Gospel Explosion in Ohio. Aside from the fact that the only C-note he's familiar with has a picture of Benjamin Franklin, he accepts, even pretending to be a record producer. The rest of the tale follows a familiar path that begins with the vocal equivalent of the Bad News Bears, the wooing of the talented Lilly (Beyonce Knowles) who's personal story mirrors that of Darrin's mother and the transformation of this sow's ear of a choir into the silky sounding purse with a shot at the prize. It even has a villain in the form of Paulina (LeTanya Richardson), the woman who wanted to take over from Aunt Sally and just happens to be church treasurer.
While it would be a gross simplification to say that the plot is merely an excuse for some great singing, it is true that the filmmakers are deft about pushing the story into the wings when the local barbers (members of the O'Jays) segue into an inspired version of Paul Simon's Loves Me Like a Rock or Shirley Caesar belts out a gospel standard. The same can be said for a lot of great musicals and though The Fighting Temptations is likable and well made, it is not a great musical.
There's no question that the story allows for some entertainingly colorful turns from a large cast that embraces gospel greats, rappers, comics and pop divas. But in the midst of it all is Gooding, a fine if largely underrated (Oscar included) actor with the ability to bend and twist to the needs of both the pro and semi-pro players. He is the glue of the piece not simply because he's one of the few performers believable and sympathetic as a fast talking sharpie but in an endearing selflessness that imbues all his work.
The film does have a difficult to define color blindness not unlike Steve Martin's character in The Jerk who has to be forcefully told that he is not black. Race appears to have never raised its head in this largely black version of Brigadoon, and appears to be off the agenda at the very white bread ad agency in New York. Still, I feel compelled to give The Fighting Temptations the American Bandstand seal of appeal _ it's easy to dance to, I like the lyrics, the kids seem to like it. I rate it a 75.
A Paramount Pictures release of an MTV/Handprint Entertainment production. Produced by David Gale, Loretha Jones, Jeff Pollack. Director, Jonathan Lynn. Screenplay, Elizabeth Hunter, Saladin Patterson. Camera, Affonso Beato. Editor, Paul Hirsch. Music, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James "Big Jim" Wright. Production design, Victoria Paul. Costumes, Mary Jane Fort, Tracey White. Choreography, Eartha Robinson, Shawnette Heard.
Cuba Gooding Jr. (Darrin Fox), Beyonce Knowles (Lilly), LeTanya Richardson (Paulina Pritchett), Mike Epps (Lucius), Steve Harvey (Miles Smoke), Wendell Pierce (Reverend Lewis).
|
The
Fighting Temptations |
Release
Date: September 19, 2003
Rated: PG-13
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Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Beyonce Knowles, Mike Epps, Faith Evans, Steve Harvey
Produced by: Loretha C. Jones, David Gale, Jeff Pollack,
Jeff Polstein, Jay Polstein,
Loretha Jones
Screenwriter: Rick Famuyiwa
David Raynr
Saladin K. Patterson
Elizabeth Hunter
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Distributor:
Paramount
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Review Date: September 19, 2003
