When anyone opens their mouth to sing, it's good; when anyone opens their mouth to talk, it's bad.
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09/19/03
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The Fighting Temptations (2003)
42
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:105
Fresh:44
Rotten:61
Average Rating:5.4/10
Consensus: The music is the only saving grace in this predictable and eager-to-please comedy.
Theatrical Release:Sep 19, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $30,213,026
Synopsis: Darrin Hill (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) has just lost his job with a New York advertising firm and bill collectors are chasing him all over the city. But just when he thinks his luck has completely run... [More]
Starring: Cuba Gooding, Beyonce Knowles, Mike Epps, Latanya Richardson
Director: Jonathan Lynn
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Reviews for The Fighting Temptations
This movie is an 'everybody's welcome' temple to the synergies of both old and new musics.
09/19/03
From its exhilarating first scene -- set in a black Southern church -- The Fighting Temptations rocks
09/19/03
Top CriticA lot more fun than you'd expect for an MTV-produced vehicle for pop diva Beyonce Knowles.
09/19/03
Top CriticYet another junky movie with a great soundtrack.
09/19/03
A bit more endurable than a Sunday morning service on a simmering Southern day in an un-air-conditioned church.
09/19/03
Top CriticTwo hours on the dot, feels more like two years.
09/19/03
Some first-rate music in a third-rate movie.
09/19/03
Top CriticA good story sung by great voices.
09/19/03
The Fighting Temptations is not brilliant and it has some clunky moments where we see the plot wheels grinding, but it has its heart and its grin in the right places.
09/19/03
Top CriticThe Fighting Temptations soars toward heaven like an eagle whenever folks cut loose with a gospel song. When they open their mouths to speak painfully trite dialogue, the movie thuds to Earth like a ruptured duck.
09/19/03
The musical sequences -- gospel infused with hip-hop -- are energetically performed, filmed and edited and the salvation of the movie -- a showcase for the soloists, backup singers, dancers, organist and tambourine player.
09/19/03
The Fighting Temptations is junk.
09/19/03
The cast is endearing, and despite a ridiculously contrived story line, the film plays like a happily toe-tapping song.
09/19/03
Assembled under the guidance of music-savvy producers such as Loretha Jones and Benny Medina, The Fighting Temptations ends up being surprisingly entertaining.
09/19/03
The worst thing is watching the manic Gooding ... continue on his career death-spiral.
09/19/03
In the end, "Temptations" is neither as funny as "Barbershop" or warm as "Soul Food" and actually works best as a soundtrack than a night at the movies.
09/19/03
The plot is silly, but if you like good music, you'll forgive them for this.
09/19/03
The music makes the movie.
09/19/03
Beyonce is so terrific that you almost forget how truly annoying Cuba is.
09/18/03
Latest News for The Fighting Temptations
June 14, 2005:
In Other News...the Wayans Bros., Destiny's Child, and Katie Holmes
Watch out, Warner Bros., there might soon be a new WB studio in town -- as in, Wayans Brothers. More...
April 29, 2003:
Bad Cuba Gooding Jr. press be damned! Snow Dogs tallied $81 million, and starring opposite one of the world's biggest pop stars can't hurt. 
More...
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