The Fighting Temptations (2003)

A New York advertising executive travels to a small Southern town to collect an inheritance but finds he must create a gospel choir and lead it to success before he can collect.

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers:

Elizabeth Hunter (story), Elizabeth Hunter (screenplay),

Stars:

Nigel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mike Epps

4 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nigel Washington	...	Little Darrin
Chloe Bailey	...	Little Lilly
Demetress Long	...	Church Usher
Ann Nesby	...	Aunt Sally Walker
Faith Evans	...	Maryann Hill
Melba Moore	...	Bessie Cooley
Rosalie Washington	...	Faye Jenkins
Ricky Dillard	...	Choir Director
Larry John Meyers	...	Homer T. (as L. John Myers)
Shirley Caesar	...	Herself (as Reverend Shirley Caesar)
LaTanya Richardson	...	Paulina Pritchett
Wendell Pierce	...	Reverend Lewis
Lou Myers	...	Homer T.
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Darrin Hill
Lourdes Benedicto	...	Rosa Lopez

Storyline

A New York advertising executive who is about to land a big account, has his life shaken up when it becomes known that he has lied about having a college degree. After being fired, his life is further shaken by his debtors who had counted on paying after landing the account. Having to go on the run, he is called back to his southern town roots, when his great aunt dies. At the reading of the will, he learns he has been asked to assume the mantle of choir director of his great aunt's church and if he can get the choir in the Gospel Explosion in Atlanta, he will inherit stock worth $150,000. Unfortunately the choir leaves a lot to be desired and he has to start recruiting. Among others, he gets three prisoners to join. More importantly, he gets a "sinner" from one of the local night clubs to join. While initially scorned and resisted, nonetheless her voice wins everyone but the hardcore church busybody.

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Plot Keywords:

church | advertising | gospel choir | georgia usa | advertising executive | 

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Taglines:

She was one temptation, he couldn't resist

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

I horodia tis symforas

Filming Locations:

Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£151,994 (UK) (12 December 2003)

Gross:

£272,886 (UK) (19 December 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Handprint Entertainment, MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film started out as a project for Sean Combs.

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Goofs

Johnson's tattoo disappears when he sings in the church.

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Quotes

Nancy Stringer: I can' believe I was gonna sleep with you.

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Connections

References Twilight Zone (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Lil' Mama"
By James Chambers, Lukasz Gottwald and Anthony Hamilton
Performed by Shawn Kane
Courtesy of J Records

User Reviews

Must Be The Music

Hmm..an MTV production-doesn't suprise me a bit. However, I'll have to agree with the majority of the people out here-the music is what made the film. With top legendary gospel singers like Shirley Ceasar and Levert Sr., no wonder that choir was pumping!

Beyonce's reindiction of "Fever" was very nice, although, I think they downplayed her look a little too much in the movie-they didn't want the famous "pop star" to leak out. Her acting was mediocre, given that she didn't have much to work with being that the plot was so limited.

The soundtrack is awesome, that's all I can say.