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The Fighting Temptations | 
| Director: Jonathan Lynn
Actors: Nigel Washington, Chloe Bailey, Demetress Long, Ann Nesby, Faith Evans
Studio: Paramount
Buy New: $9.98
Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 13370
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 123 Minutes
ASIN: B000HZEPGS
Theatrical Release Date: September 18, 2003
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Synopsis:
A New York advertising executive (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who is about to land a big account, has his life shaken up when it becomes known that he has lied about having a college degree. After being fired, his life is further shaken by his debtors who had counted on paying after landing the account. Having to go on the run, he is called back to his southern town roots, when his great aunt dies. At the reading of the will, he learns he has been asked to assume the mantle of choir director of his great aunt's church and if he can get the choir in the Gospel Explosion in Atlanta, he will inherit stock worth $150,000. Unfortunately the choir leaves a lot to be desired and he has to start recruiting. Among others, he gets three prisoners to join. More importantly, he gets a "sinner" (Beyonce Knowles) from one of the local night clubs to join. While initially scorned and resisted, nonetheless her voice wins everyone but the hardcore church busy body. |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 65 more reviews...
 A fantastic musical!!! July 18, 2003
Mark Twain (www.chismetime.com)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
Wow...Hollywood has once again reinvented the movie musical with The Fighting Temptations, a funny and charming crowd-pleaser.
The film brims with plenty of rousing gospel choir music and charming humor. The wonderful star-filled cast is a pure delight and Beyonce Knowles once again shines on-screen and manages to hypnotize with her amazing vocal talent. This one had the audience at my special sneak preview clapping, cheering, and even dancing in their seats. Once it was over, the theatre filled with uproarious applause. This is the definitive crowd-pleasing film of the year--definitely not big on plot, but explodes with fantasic musical numbers that can brighten any mood. This was definitely an amazing movie-going experience. We all LOVED IT!!! See The Fighting Temptations, I highly recommend it.
Heart Warming and Uplifing October 5, 2003
Lolita (Memphis,Tn)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
My twelve yr. old and I went to see this movie we loved it. The casting was just perfit,hats off to the casting director.The gospel was uplifting from Shirly Cesear,O'Jays and surprising Beyonc'e.If you have any christanity in you and felt you have got lost along the way in life the movie certainly brought you back to your roots.I myself love gospel and church at time at the movie I forgot were I was.Will go see it again. 10 stars
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!! September 17, 2003
F. Bailey (Queens, NY United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I'm an avid fan of Gospel music and I loved it! At first I thought I was going to be seeing some dry gospel movie with a deep spiritual message and a lot of tear jerky gospel singing. Although it did have a lot of gospel singing, it was very upbeat. The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard since The Wiz (and that was out in the 70's). I listened to it on their web site and I'm definately going to buy it. The movie did teach a good lesson about lying and true happiness, and at the same time, it was very funny and entertaining. If you're looking for a movie to take the entire family to, I highly recommend this one. One word of caution though, they did use profanity a couple of times and it had a few sexual references. Other than that, it was an excellent movie.
great cast and music highlight fun film June 26, 2005
Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
A predictable plot, and a script and editing that could have been better are saved by the talent and enthusiasm of a terrific cast, and some fabulous music that is full of joy and life. "The Fighting Temptations" is also family friendly by today's standards and has a balance between the religious and secular that should provide "something for everyone." The only disappointment is that it had the potential of being so much better, as in the audition scene, which could have been hilarious, but lags and at times falls flat.
The cast: Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. has a charisma and energy that fills the screen, and is a marvelous actor. He deserved better direction and script here, but nevertheless always gives us 100% of his overflowing talent as Darrin Hill, a con man forced to face the truth of his superficial life. "Destiny's Child" Beyonce Knowles, who gained a few pounds and became even more voluptuous for the role of Lilly, a single parent and lounge singer, is absolutely gorgeous, and does as well with her acting as she does as a singer. Among the many standout performances, some are memorable: Mike Epps as Lucius, Melba Moore as Bessie, Wendell Pierce as Reverend Lewis, Eddie Levert Sr. as Joseph the barber, and Rue McClanahan, Lou Myers, Angie Stone, Mickey Jones, and T-Bone.
The music: My favorite numbers are "Rain Down," with Angie Stone and Eddie Levert, Sr., and also with Eddie and his fellow "O'Jays" Walter Williams and Eric Nolan Grant, "Love Me Like a Rock." "To Da River" with T-Bone, Zane, and Montell Jordan is exceptional, being the rare combination of a rap song with a melody, and other fabulous numbers are sung throughout the film, including a sultry rendition of the Peggy Lee hit, "Fever," by Beyonce. The Blind Boys of Alabama and Melba Moore are among the many other fine performances.
Weak moments don't stop this from being a very enjoyable film, and well worth its 123 minutes of one's time.
A rare film in the 21st Century, it's a feel good move guys! May 22, 2005
Kali (United Kingdom)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Not what you would call an exciting plot, but who on earth cares? In this age of special effects and pretensions such as actors/actresses telling the press and their friends, "OH WELL IT'S METHOD ACTING YOU KNOW DARLING THAT MAKES IT SO REAL...."it's nice to watch a movie that is both fun and pleasing to the eye.
You could call this movie a poor man's "Sister Act" it certainly has that feel about it, but even that doesn't detract from the charm and energy of this very under rated movie that I found myself enjoying despite myself!
The plot isn't rocket science, thank God as it follows New York advertising executive Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) to a small Southern Town to the reading of his Grandmother's will which has him getting in involved with a gospel choir that couldn't sing their way out of a paper bag. Very soon the choir has new members which soon include three hysterically funny convicts and a beautiful lounge singer with an attitude as they strive achieve Darrin's deceased Grandmother's dream of making it big on the gospel circuit, especially the Gospel Explosion Competition in Atlanta.
However the salt in the sugar is that Darrin's not doing it out of the goodness of his heart, he's hard hearted city boy after all, he in it for the money because there's a $150,000 legacy up for grabs and he has his eye on the main chance.
However Darrin doesn't expect to fall in love with the lounge singer, the warmth of Southern Life and the food which to his disgust he can't get when he returns to the city and nor does he expect to grow fond of the misfits he has cobbled together in a bid to claim his inheritance.
Be prepared for gentle laughs throughout the movie, a few loud chuckles over some of the "ruder" aspects of the film and toe tap your way through a great gospel soundtrack that had me almost heading for church to join in and I'm of the Hindu persuasion!
The cast are crackingly good fun in this feel good movie, with Beyonce Knowles proving she can act as well as sing, and you get some fun and energetic performances from the likes of T-Bone, (I love his hair in this movie!) LaTanya Richardson and the wonderful Melba Moore.
Look out also for Golden Girl Rue McClanahan giving it her all, and sit back and enjoy this easy to watch movie that is enchanting as it is naughty in places.
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