The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I loved the Five Heartbeats! I have watched it so many times. I have it on VHS and DVD. I thought they did a wonderful job in this movie. The actors did such a wonderful job that I thought they were actually singing. They really did a good job on the acting! The songs were really good. Everyone I talked to liked this movie. I am ready for the Marvin Gaye story. Come on Robert and Keenan.Please make some more films about the music when singers could sing and the songs made you move. This was a refreshing story and I knew it was about the Dells, Temptations and others. Robert and Keenan, thank you for a movie that I enjoy watching over and over. Excellent job!

This movie was almost too much like the Committments and That Thing You Do and that wonderful mini series about the Temptations. But is was only "almost". It was wonderful on it's own. Robert Townsend is wonderful. I really came to care about these characters and what was going to happen to them. There was a lot of really good music as well. One wonderful surprise was the singing of the little sister of one of the lead characters. I could not believe her voice! In fact, there was seldom a wrong note. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is that it was really stretching in places for credibility. However, it was really entertaining overall.

Only someone foolish or not of the African-American persuasion would say that black artists did not experience racism in the 60's, when black artist still experience racism today. And, the attempt to masquerade white artists while using black voices is not so outlandish. The recording industry, the music industry, and the marketing industry are three completely different animals. Music, recording, and marketing can be combined to create a synergy that is altogether real or on the other hand you have Milli-Vanilli. If it was done in the 90's I am quite sure it was practiced in earlier years. Everyone that is in business is in business to make money and while there is making music and recording music, it all boils down to money. Marketing - optimizing profits by directing sales toward the market that has the potential to generate the highest earnings. The ideal of a sell out was popularized with the advent of the Hip-hop culture, before that time it was about money and money only, not being accepted into a culture that lauded "KEEPING IT REAL".

On almost all the comments everyone assumes this film is based on The Temptations. Which is a fair assumption given The Temps' lead singer David Ruffin had a serious drug problem,as did the 'Hearts in this film.This film is actually based on a group named The Dells. The Dells started recording in 1953 (as The El-Rays, and changed to the Dells in '55). They have atleast 3to4 dozen R&B hits in every decade from the 1950s to the 90s. Everything in the Film except for the lead singer being a drug addict is based on their experiences. As with most Hollywood films somethings were embelished for Dramatic effect. The Dells also sang just about every song the soundtrack. The theme song "A Heart Is A House For Love" was a #13 R&B in 1991. Happy to say the Dells are still performing and recording together after 51 years, with no personell changes since 1957. The Dells served as Technical advisors on the film, and at the end of the credits they show a picture of them and the Film is dedicated to them.