The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Darrin's mother Maryann Hill got forced out of the choir by Reverend Lewis (Wendell Pierce) after busybody Paulina Pritchett discovers her R&B singing. Today, Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is an aggressive marketing junior executive in NYC. He's a superficial schemer and ashamed of his home town. Darrin is fired for lying about his education and most importantly, getting caught. He's broke and then gets news that aunt Sally has died. He returns to Monte Carlo, Georgia and finds friendly booty-expert driver Luscious (Mike Epps). In her Will, Darrin is made the director of the choir and if they win, she leaves him stocks worth $150k. He falls for Lilly (Beyoncé Knowles) but she's been outcast for her sins.Darrin is a horribly unlikeable character. Cuba is unable to inject the character with any rooting interest. He is not funny. That goes for many of the side characters. Sure the villainous Paulina is ugly but it's done in a very broad way. Mike Epps is annoying. Most of the supposed comedy is broadly bad. Beyoncé is reasonable and she can sing. The singing is possibly the only true greatness in the film. I would suggest getting the soundtrack rather than the movie.

The story, the plot, the drama, or the comedy, is nothing particularly important and deep. But the music is great, this full new generation of Gospel singing that finds its reviving inspiration in hip hop, rock, and all kinds of other new developments, particularly the black musicians of the USA, urban or not, that want to take real life as their inspiration, real life of the younger generations and dedicate their vision to some religious dream and hope.That's probably what this film is best about: it really puts religion back in its place in society and that place is to procure joy and even happiness to people and not the sour ethics of an old fake widow who hides her having been abandoned by her husband behind the front cover of the Bible. This film is probably optimistic about the depth of this religious feeling among the younger generations, but it is not entirely false: these younger generations are looking for some spirituality, even in the most secular countries who, like the secular sectarian France, forbid religious discourse and culture in their schools and public institutions, including the kipa or skullcap for the Jews, the head scarf for Moslem women, and only tolerate religious pins if they are smaller than one inch. Here in this film they work a revival of a southern Baptist church choir that manages to find the real force of joy and gaiety in being together with others and share some communion with a divine dimension in this life. Not the communion of the commandments but the communion of the heart and empathy, soul and mind.The film though, as for the plot and tempo, is slightly too slow at times, too nonchalant. A slightly tighter treatment would have improved it tremendously. But the music is first and foremost.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

i loved this movie. i watched this movie on TV on night and i loved it ever since. i think there is a lot of action and singing in this movie. there is nothing to hate about this movie. if you ever have a chance to see this movie, watch it. i will say that it will never be a waste. If you hate this movie, why? there is great actors, great people and most of all great singing. the whole movie is great....a little bit predictable ending but nothing that would make you not want to see it again and again. Once you see this movie once, you will love it forever and ever. watch this movie with anyone, wonderful for kids, adults, teens, grandparents, everyone. I love this movie

I loved this movie. A great "inspiration" filled with hope! Cuba was excellent and Beyonce was both beautiful and compelling. What makes a movie like this work is the "realality" of the script and the "power of the performers! The love scenes between Cuba and Beyonce were fill with passion. I think that the "religious tone" of the movied added to it's significance. This movie was being real. The church is as relevant to our times as any other part of society.We need to see more movies like this coming from Hollywood. In light of the tragic conditions that we face in the world, this movie can help bring about a "spark" of light and hope.To the writers and directors, keep up the good work!