Uno sguardo dal cielo

Okay, The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant and David Niven remains a brilliant Christmas movie. But I must admit that its remake, The Preacher's Wife, isn't bad at all. As a vehicle for the singing talents of Whitney Houston it surely succeeds and I think the gospel setting is a great idea as well. Denzel Washington is charming as angel Dudley, Whitey does a great job as a disappointed wife (and sings wonderfully) and Courtney B. Vance is very convincing as a preacher who has lost hope.

Strangely there were not a lot of things copied from the original black and white movie. It looks like the people behind The Preacher's Wife only took the basic idea of the original movie and then made up its own story. I think the lack of commercial success is due to the fact that movies about angels don't fit in these cynical times anymore. With James Stewart, Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant in a black and white production you could get away with it. But in these modern days? I doubt it.

The Preacher's Wife is no classic, but it's a nice movie when you want to watch a (musical) Christmas film during the holidays.

The Preacher's Wife is food film that your whole family can enjoy at christmas time. I remember seeing this film six years ago and loving it.This was Denzel's and Whitney's first foray into family territory and both actors succeed. The two have great chemistry together and the choir scenes really get your fingers snapping. Justin Pierre Edmond who played Jeremiah was also good in his first role hope we see more of him.

This movie is not one that was made to make awards and reach the hierarchy of its peers. It was developed for the holiday season but it was also made quite simply to remind us that in life there must be faith. Much like the message at the end of the movie, just because you can't see air, doesn't mean its not there. Faith can be religious but in this movie, faith went much further and it would appear some failed to see this aspect.

Those who say their bored are perhaps the very people that need the message of the movie much like Ms. Houston. It speaks about love that is everlasting not only in the terms of religion but in our lives, relationships and our communities as a whole. It is very odd that anyone would not enjoy this movie. It is uplifting and funny, but most importantly if you are human it makes you take a serious look at those around you.

1947's "The Bishop's Wife" is a never-to-be-repeated total triumph of fantasy and heart. But that was generations ago, under different circumstances and with different attitudes (and not even one black extra on set)

Nevertheless, this was a natural as a remake with the proper tweaking. 1996 audiences would never have gone for unabashedly fantastic aspects that are so appealing and endearing in the original, so all of that's toned-down, and as that is so fundamental to the original's success, it inevitably diminishes some of the remake's sparkle.

Still, there are worthwhile additions here. The perpetual problems of police-community relations and threats of gentrification are seamlessly inserted, and the monster that threatens is no longer a monolithic Tower to Mammon, but now a Luxury Gated Community development. And you can bet the preacher's church has a lot more than the bishop's wimpy boychoir, it's got a full-throated gospel group that nearly brings the house down, literally, but stops at breaking the boiler, just when they can least afford it.

Whitney Houston plays the devoted wife, but, true to her times, she is not the resigned shrinking violet the former bishop's wife was. Without ever jeopardizing her standing as the preacher's (Courtney B Vance) wife, she has no problem voicing her positions just as loud as he does.

Denzel Washington plays the angel sent to save the pastor's marriage and he and Whitney do make a very cute couple. Of note is Jenifer Lewis, already, playing Gramma 20 years before "Black-sh " There's a cute scene of white carolers, traditionally dressed, singing outside the posh digs of the evil black real estate developer (Gregory Hines) who, in 1996, can live anywhere he can afford to, and it's definitely NOT the ghetto. Best of all there's Whitney singing gospel like she did at her home church in East Orange, NJ, although the film shoot location was actually Jersey City a couple towns away, not far. .

As a Christmas Movie for the Whole Family, it does have a Hallmarkish air about it that can sometimes be contrived and cloying, but generally a Christmas Movie families of all colors should be able to enjoy

A very long time ago I happened on "The Bishop's Wife" and really liked it, but it wasn't a Christmas classic and I never saw it again. So when I realized there was a "re-make" I was excited. I liked this story even better! I thought Whitney Houston was terrific and the rest of the characters (especially her mother) were also very enjoyable. Sometimes I just need a break from the mayhem and violence and this is a sweet, uplifting, old-fashioned Christmas pleasure I try to watch every year. If you like Denzel, if you like Lionel Ritchie, if you like Gregory Hines, and especially if you like gospel music, please give this movie a try.