Picture this: non-stop comedy, phenomenal actors, gospel, soul and R&B greats with a down south flare. The Paramount Pictures, The Fighting Temptations is all that and more.
In the film, Cuba Gooding, Jr. is Darrin Fox, a New York executive at an advertising firm who finds out his lone relative, aunt Sally, has died. He then prepares to travel to his childhood home of Monte Carlo, Ga. But before he leaves, he is unexpectedly fired from his job because he is a pathological liar. After Darrin attends his aunt’s funeral, he learns of an inheritance that is offered in his aunt’s will but, there is a catch.
He then decides to move back to Georgia after finding out the conditions of obtaining the money. He has to help his aunt’s church choir make it big.
In comes Beyonce’ Knowles, who plays nightclub songstress, Lilly, who reluctantly assists him in that pursuit, which involves putting together an award-winning gospel choir.
The nontraditional choir, to the surprise of everyone (including his deceased aunt’s friend Paulina, who plays the antagonist), lures all of Monte Carlo to their church. They even have a chance at winning the gospel singing award that was warranted by Darrin’s dead aunt. Darrin eventually has to make a decision in the movie when his past of falsities catches up with him and affects his relationship with the choir and more importantly, Lilly.
The multi-talented cast featuring Knowles’, singers Angie Stone, the O’Jays, Montel Jordan, Faith Evans, and actress Rue McClanahan (of The Golden Girls). Comedians Steve Harvey and Mike Epps add an abundance of down home humor to the movie. Cameos were also made by gospel greats Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin, in addition to others.
The Fighting Temptations is “toe-tappin,” laugh-out-loud, feel good movie that many people can spiritually relate to.
This movie is sure to have people “fighting the temptation” to pay to watch it over and over again.
