The Fighting Temptations

Darrin Hill is a fast-talking New York advertising executive whose life has come apart: he has lost his job and is short of money. News that his late aunt has left him a substantial sum seems like a rescue, but her will attaches a condition. To collect, he must return to his hometown in Georgia and put together a local gospel choir.

Back home, Darrin finds plenty of colourful residents but little singing talent, and the choir he assembles must reach the annual gospel competition. A jazz singer named Lilly, whose voice is far better than anything else he has heard locally, becomes central to his plans, though persuading her to sing gospel is another matter.

The Fighting Temptations was released in 2003 and runs 122 minutes. Jonathan Lynn directed it, placing it seventh in the directing career that began with Clue in 1985 and continued through My Cousin Vinny, The Distinguished Gentleman, Greedy, Sgt. Bilko and The Whole Nine Yards; Wild Target followed in 2010. Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson wrote the screenplay, and Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé lead a cast that includes Mike Epps, Faith Evans, Steve Harvey and Wendell Pierce. Made for about 15 million dollars, it took roughly twice that worldwide. On IMDb it holds 5.6/10 from 8,000 votes and on TMDB 5.8/10 from 139 votes, while critics rated it 5.3/10 across 108 reviews.