“Sister and her sisters” shimmer and shine in the 2012 remake of the 1976 cinematic classic, Sparkle.
Season 5 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, plays the lead role of Sparkle Anderson; a young songwriter and unassuming song bird, growing up in “Motor City” Detroit in the late 1960s.
Sparks can’t help but dazzle, supported by actors like the dynamic Derek Luke, Antwone Fisher, Carmen Ejogo What’s The Worst That Could Happen?, Tika Sumpter, The Game, Mike Epps, Friday After Next, and the legend herself, the late Whitney Houston, Waiting To Exhale.
The story begins with Sister performing a song penned by her younger sister Sparkle at one of the local club’s amateur nights. Much to their surprise, Sister wins the competition as she captivates the audience with her charisma and charm.
Derek Luke plays Stix, the fast-talking, ambitious entrepreneur who is instantly moved by Sparkle and Sister, who persuades them along with their other sister, Delores, to form a female group to take the Detroit music scene by storm.
Against the will of their retired R&B songstress turned church secretary mother, Emma Anderson, played by the one and only Whitney Houston, is a role that seems to have been made for her. Anderson sisters push through the pressure of drugs, identity crisis, love, crime and family dysfunction as they rise to stardom and shine like diamonds.
Given my passion for fashion, I was impressed and inspired by the costumes. Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter who is known for her work on films such as Four Brothers, Amistad and Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, captured the glitz and glamour of Motown.
With songs from the original score by Curtis Mayfield and R&B expert R. Kelly, the soundtrack will surely have listeners grooving and crooning.
If for nothing else, Whitney Houston’s performance alone is a legitimate reason to spend $6.00 on a matinee ticket.
Although there are stark differences from the original, this updated version of the rags to riches tale of three different sisters trying to live out their dreams, is a wonderful display of talents that will have every movie-goer looking into their heart.