I think my favorite moment of this movie was when my friend leaned over and said "Didn't we already see Dreamgirls?" and I whispered back: "Yes...AND What's Love Got To Do With It."
Via Wikipedia:
"Sparkle is an American musical film inspired by The Supremes. Sparkle is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, which centered on three singing teenage sisters from Harlem who form a girl group in the late 1950s. The remake takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s during the Motown era."
I don't remember the original and I don't know why they changed the era or the locale, but I'm sure it didn't help the story any. I think what WOULD have helped was if they just made this a Lifetime Movie of the Week. Everybody's name seems to have an "S" in it. Sparkle, Sister, Satin. Thank God no one had a lisp or we ALL would have been lost! The music kinda sucks (except for the fab "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"), the editing makes it seems like they are trying to make something out of nothing (which they didn't), the song sequences are WAY too long and it's all just so...mediocre.
Alas, I didn't walk out. While I totally could have, there were a couple performances that I really enjoyed and whose story lines I was actually interested in.
None of them being the leads, but that's not the point.
Whitney Houston plays Sparkle's mean mom in hot rollers. She likes the bible and going to church and pointing her finger a lot. She doesn't like television, a-line dresses or using facial expressions. Jordan Sparks should be in movies as much as Britney Spears should be (FYI: Britney Spears shouldn't be.) and finally, the mean white guy is actually an albino...whatever that means.
But, the real standouts are Omari Hardwick as Levi (The diner scene with the ring, is nothing short of brilliant) and Tika Sumpter as Delores aka Girl #3. She really steals whatever scene she's in. (And much like Anika Noni Rose in Dreamgirls, it's a thankless role, but is fantastic.)
Whatelse can I tell you? If you like domestic abuse, mid-tempo songs and mothers that provide slutty bugle bead gowns as peace offerings, you will LOVE this movie.
Be warned: That above sentence reads like my dream film, but this movie is a nightmare to sit through.
In short, Sparkle doesn't even glimmer.
