“The Fighting Temptations” (Paramount Pictures)
Once in a blue moon a movie comes along without any pretensions to greatness. It doesn’t want to win awards, it just wants to entertain. Such a movie is “The Fighting Temptations.” It succeeds in sending you out the doors following its screening with nothing but fun in your heart. And that, my friend, is rare.
Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars as Darren Hill, an advertising executive in New York who has made it to the top by lying about his credentials. He is a “matchstick man” who burns people cautiously. When he learns that a beloved aunt has died he hurries down to Montecarlo, Georgia to see her laid to rest.
While there he learns that she has left him $150,000 contingent on his taking charge of the church choir and entering them in the local gospel competition. If they win, he wins. He agrees but then has to go up against the formidable Paulina Pritchett (LaTanya Richardson) who sees herself as the only person capable of leading the choir.
Darren finds out that the choir is a mess. He needs one good voice to pull it together and this voice turns out to belong to a local single mother named Lilly (Beyonce Knowles). Lilly is looked down on by Paulina and other do-gooders in the church but Darren knows she has the right attitude towards the music.
“The Fighting Temptations” is basically “Sister Act” from the male perspective. Gooding throws himself into the role of Darren Hill and makes him a loveable con man. He is full of energy and attitude that affects and infects everyone around him. When he gets the choir to rocking they almost blow the roof off the church building.
Beyonce Knowles is the find of the film. She is a natural actress and a naturally sultry performer. When she sings Peggy Lee’s “Fever” she smolders and the film almost melts. If “The Fighting Temptations” has a secret weapon for success it is Beyonce.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and mild sensuality.
The supporting cast includes Melba Moore, Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Reverend Shirley Caesar, Rue McClanahan (yes, that “Golden Girl”), Mike Epps and Steve Harvey. They are all wonderful, especially Epps who provides most of the comedy.
If you want to see a feel good movie then this is the one to see. Don’t fight it! Give in to the temptation to see “The Fighting Temptations.”
I scored “The Fighting Temptations” a soul searching 7 out of 10.
