From \Men of Honor"" to ""Rat Race,"" Cuba Gooding, Jr. has brought his talents in acting to the big screen while never failing to please.??He takes on a different sort of starring role in ""The Fighting Temptations,"" where he plays a fast-talking advertising executive turned choir director.
In the movie, Gooding portrays Darrin Fox, who, after getting fired from his cushy job, attends his aunt's funeral.??Much to Fox's surprise, his aunt leaves him the job of directing the church choir in her will.??What drives him to accept the offer is that he will gain her stocks if the choir gets first place at the annual Gospel Explosion.??The remainder of the movie is spent with Fox making desperate pleas to the town folk to join his band of misfits. In the process he also tries to win over single-mother Lilly, played?? by Beyonc?? Knowles.
After a slew of untalented hopefuls try out for the choir, Fox is left with a hilariously diverse group.?? He even recruits inmates from the local prison. The scene in the jailhouse has a very uplifting performance where the choir assembles for the first time and their hidden talents to the surface. Knowles' character brings an R&B flare to the gospel tunes with her numerous solos which definitely use her talents from outside the film industry.
Throughout the film, the focus becomes the choir's journey to the contest, which is complemented by the growing relationship between Fox and Lilly. Although that subplot adds to the film's appeal, Fox's obvious attempts to win Lilly over get tiresome after a while.??Either way, the two have decent on-screen chemistry.
Gooding breaks into his role with unrelenting energy as a director since he dances to the beats.?? Even though Fox has no previous experience directing, he still manages to take charge of the choir as well as ""get the girl.""
Aside from the movie's predictability, ""The Fighting Temptations"" offers an uplifting experience for viewers, as well as a solid message.??The choir's road to success gets a little long at times but is made up for with many jokes and wild characters.??Overall, anyone looking for a light-hearted comedy with good music will enjoy this flick.?? Those looking for a less predictable plot might want to think before buying a ticket to this film.
