The Fighting Temptations (2003)

Cuba Gooding, Jr. is among one of the most likable actors I can think of, who always seems subjected to bottom-barrel dreck. His performance as Tre Styles, living on the wrong side of the town with a smart brother and a thug for a friend in John Singleton's Boyz N The Hood is one I recall as one of the strongest of the eighties and one of infinitely powerful emotional impact. On a lighter not, he too gave a quick-witted, inspired performance as a luckless schmuck in pursuit of $2,000,000 in Rat Race. In Jonathan Lynn's Fighting Temptations, his character is Darrin Hill, an advertising executive in New York, who roots stem from Monte Carlo, Georgia. He learns of his aunt Sally's death just as he was leaving his firm with all his things after being informed he was fired for having a resume consisting mainly of false pretenses. He flies down to Georgia to attend the church he did as a child, and is reacquainted with the heat, the atmosphere, and the backsides of the girls by Mike Epps' Luscious. Darrin, then, learns that his aunt left him $150,000 in her will if he can rebuild the church's choir from the ground-up in six weeks. Learning that those who willingly want to join are less than qualified, he holds auditions, wanders around town, and in the meantime, constantly tries to form a relationship with Beyoncé Knowles' Lilly, his crush at a young age who had her heart set on Michael Jackson.The story here is told with an alertness to its formula, yet a bounce in its step, fully capitalizing on the potential of Gooding, Jr. as an actor and Beyoncé Knowles as a screen presence. As someone who had no desire to watch any film Beyoncé went near and a distaste for her music, she is wonderful here, playing a character not as helpless or as self-consumed as I thought. She also isn't placed in the foreground either, nor does the film feel like it's simply capitalizing off her bankability as a singer. Her and Gooding, Jr. make a perfect pair.Yet what's really to praise and write home about with The Fighting Temptations is the soundtrack. The choir sequences are energized precisely to give them the added effect and extra boost they need to work. The little rap tune, "To Da River," that comes relatively late in the game, is about as catchy as any song can be, and so often do the songs break free from the depressing shackles of being trite or undercooked.If there's one point of "triteness" the film incorporates, it's the melodrama and Darrin's slightly smarmy attitude to the idea of running this choir and his romance, which is played out and redundant. It's not as painstakingly cheesy or as tiresome as it could've been (worse, more confused writing that is present in a melodramatic picture like Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman would've steered this film off the nearest cliff). Not to mention, if the film would've had, say, lesser performers, ones with not nearly as much drive, passion, or soul as the cast presented here, this would've spiraled further into lame, contrived mediocrity.There isn't too much in The Fighting Temptations, and it does go a tad too long, with a story that reaches the two hour mark. It's not great cinema by any stretch; it's the kind I call "Sunday morning-fare," the kind of film you tune into fifteen minutes after it started, watch till the credits, and resume your day unaffected in any way, positive or negative. As awkward of a statement this may be, there's worse "Sunday morning-fare" out there. Certainly it'd be harder to find one as nice, free-spirited, genial, and effervescent as this.Starring: Cuba Gooding, Jr. Beyoncé Knowles, Mike Epps, and Steve Harvey. Directed by: Jonathan Lynn.

As a child Darrin left his small Southern hometown as his mother was driven out of the church due to her singing "modern and sinful" music on the side. Decades later and young Darrin has lied his way into a job in New York and is doing alright until his deception is discovered on the same day as he gets news of his Aunt Sally passing. With his last few dollars he heads back home to find the community all grieving for the shared loss – albeit with the usual divisions in the church. With the will requiring Darrin to lead the church choir to success in a competition before he gets a cent from Sally's will, he finds himself staying in town.A MTV production, this film occurs in a vision of the black experience in the South of America that tends to only exist on sitcoms and in films like this. Crammed with every cliché you can imagine, the narrative sees a young man being won over by the good ol' spirit of the home community and learning lessons about himself, life and happiness despite initially looking down on their small town ways. It is tosh of course but it may appeal to the lower and middle-class black audience that it is squarely aimed at with its "mmm-hmmm" caricatures, gospel air and big musical numbers. These things might be enough to catch you up in the characters to the point where you care about them but if you can't get past the superficiality of it then you're likely just to see it all as bunk.Gooding Jr can't really help and does nothing here to convince me that he is as good as the Oscar suggests. He plays an easy character with mock humility and doesn't convince. Knowles can sing and credit to her for putting on weight for the part (although she is hardly plump is she?). She does the "small town girl" thing with charm but has nothing approaching depth or character. The support cast features uninspiring turns from Harvey and Epps while the presence of Pierce did nothing but make me long for season 4 of The Wire to get to me. McClanahan, Moore, Washington and others all fill in the basic but not mush else while music cameos abound from Mary Mary, Angie Stone, Montel Jordan, Faith Evans and others – again showing the target audience.For the majority of us though this will be fairly generic guff that won't appeal. The superficial plot and characters are too thin to be of real interest although some viewers will be won over by the music numbers, caricatures and clichés to be distracted without the depth or effort.

In my opinion, a very underrated movie. The music is emotionally stirring with some of the top rhythm and blues artist performing as members of the choir. I especially enjoyed the Barber Shop scene with the OJAYS and the little boy. Bianca is mesmerizing with her beauty and voice and does a rendition of Sumertime that you will always remember. With GREAT gospel singing and well as some excellent RAPPING, I was entertained throughout the movie. I was surprised to see how well Cuba Gooding Jr. could break dance. Their is fun, romance, comedy and entertainment that will keep you smiling and perk you up for an afternoon of enjoyment. I've added this movie to my personal collection of films and it's one that I recommend to anyone trying to make up their minds about what to watch. It has something for everyone.

I felt pretty good tonight after a week of work. Will work tomorrow as well(Saturday tomorrow).Sat down in front of the television and saw that lovely Beyonce and great Cuba Gooding JR would play in this movie. I felt right away that this was something special. The concept of the movie, that gives you a great reminder of things and values in life. I was i chock for 2 hours, great music, love, big thoughts about the BIG man and values in life made my goes wet. For me this was a great moment and I will buy the movie and the soundtrack ASAP. Hallelulja for gospel, Beyonce and great Cuba Gooding JR!!!! Amen!