The Preacher's Wife (1996) Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Justin Pierre Edmund, Gregory Hines, Jennifer Lewis, Lionel Richie. Directed by Penny Marshall. 125 minutes PG, 3.5 stars (out of 5 stars)
Review by Ed Johnson-Ott NUVO Newsweekly www.nuvo-online.com/film/ Archive reviews at http://www.us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Edward+Johnson- ott
A really good Christmas movie is hard to find. For every "Miracle On 34th Street" or "It's A Wonderful Life," there's hundreds of films that don't stand the test of time. Hopefully, "The Preacher's Wife" will become one of the keepers. The story is simple. Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) has doubts about his effectiveness in helping his community and family. His prayer for help is answered with the arrival of Dudley (Denzel Washington,) an over-enthusiastic angel who becomes tangled with the parish, and develops a crush on Mrs. Biggs (Whitney Houston.) Penny Marshall's assured direction makes "The Preacher's Wife" shine. She adroitly works around Whitney Houston's limited acting skills, highlighting Houston's vocals while using the other actors to convey the story. Courtney B. Vance gives a strong performance as the Reverend Biggs. Trying to carry a neighborhood on his shoulders has worn Biggs down, leaving him a fretful, shaken man. Vance effectively imparts the minister's grim mood, while keeping him a sympathetic character. Denzel Washington is charming as the angel, in a playful, loose performance. He manages to be boundlessly optimistic without ever becoming cloying. The most memorable performance, however, comes from Justin Pierre Edmund, an adorable six year old who plays the Biggs' son. Edmund is a mush-mouthed delight in a bright, innocent performance that would win over even the most cynical viewer. The real strength of "The Preacher's Wife" lies in its sense of community and spirituality. The inner-city neighborhood operates as an extended family – these people care about each other, and their love and faith is infectious. The many songs performed by Houston and the church choir help to bolster the sense of joyous communal spirituality. The film is not without flaws. Houston's acting is almost as vacuous as her voice is strong. During several key dramatic scenes, she has an odd, pre-occupied look. And Gregory Hines' turn as the villain of the story, a land developer who wants to "improve" the neighborhood by tearing the heart out of it, lacks a sense of real menace. "The Preacher's Wife" triumphs over its weak spots due to the film's overwhelming spirit. Memorable Christmas movies work when they convey sentiment in a genuine fashion. "The Preacher's Wife" is destined to become a holiday classic.
Coipyright 1997, Ed Johnson-Ott
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