The Fighting Temptations

Oh dear me, can someone please save Cuba Gooding Jr from himself? It seems like only yesterday that he was being hailed as a potential leading man thanks to his headline (and Oscar) grabbing role in 'Jerry Maguire'. Since then, Gooding has apparently done his level best to destroy his own career with a series of duds, which seemed to hit their creative nadir with 'Boat Trip' (2002). After all, things couldn't get much worse than that homophobic slice of trash. Oh hang on, here's 'The Fighting Temptations'.

In this brash but directionless music based comedy (and that's a kind description), Gooding Jr. plays New York advertising executive Darrin Hill, who loses his job just as his aunt dies, forcing him to return to his secular hometown of Montecarlo, Georgia. According to auntie's will, the very broke Darrin stands to inherit $150,000 if he agrees to direct the church choir and ensure its safe passage into a local contest. Enter the bootytastic Beyonce as Darrin's childhood sweetie.

So determined to be uplifting that it borders on vertigo, 'The Fighting Temptations' is a deeply predictable affair that doesn't pull any punches with its cliché-ridden premise or hackneyed delivery. Cuba Gooding Jr. hams it like his life (or at least his career) depended on it, but to no avail. You should know it's over when the stunning but dramatically wooden Beyonce Knowles manages to make you look laboured in comparison. Let's hope the wonga is worth it, Cuba.