Coming in at No. 5 at the U.S. box office in its first week, bringing in $12 million, the remake of the 1976 film Sparkle sent sparks flying.
Sparkle didn't reach the heights many thought it would, but the movie appealed to fans of the cast. This group included sixth season American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, actor Derek Luke, actress Carmen Ejogo, comedian Mike Epps, and the talented, mind-blowing, and legendary late Whitney Houston.
Houston, who unfortunately did not live to see the Aug. 17 U.S. premiere of her marvelous performance plays Emma, the mother of the singing trio of sisters that included Sparkle, Delores and Sister.
The movie's first major scene is set in a Detroit nightclub in 1968 when 19-year old Sparkle Anderson (Sparks), an inspiring songwriter and sister toTammy Sister Anderson (Ejogo), and Delores (Tika Sumpter), watches Sister perform on stage.
Stix (Luke) eventually convinces Sparkle and her sisters to form a singing group that he manages at gigs around Detroit. The only problem is Sparkle knew her mother, Emma, would object because Emma’s own music career nearly cost her life as she succumbed to substance abuse.
Emma’s fears were proven true as Sister married comedian Satin (Epps) who abuses her physically as she sank into a life of drug abuse. Houston suffered a similar professional downfall, turning to years of drug abuse that ruined her career.
Sparkle was her attempt at a professional comeback, but was short-lived as she died Feb. 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel while a pre-Grammy party she would attend was to take place a couple of floors from her room in suite 434. Her death was initially ruled an accidental drowning, but an autopsy determined Houston also had prescription drugs and marijuana in her system.
Despite Houston’s untimely passing, the movie was filled with surprises and memorable moments. There were eerily true lines such as when Emma emotionally declared, ”Was my life not enough of a cautionary tale for you?”
Even the funny lines such, as “Keep dancing like that, you'll bring home some kid you can't feed,” are memorable. I will definitely recommend Sparkle to any movie fan.
I can 100 percent tell you that Houston portrayed Emma with all her heart and did a phenomenal job playing Emma with the perfect attitude. Houston also did a wonderful job, especially when she sang her last song, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, at the church. Even though Houston wasn’t able to see the movie while living, she seemed to be there in spirit.
The director, Salim Akil, did a brilliant job adding his twist to the remake of the 1976 movie, which starred Philip Michael Thomas of the 80s Miami Vice TV series, singer Irene Cara, best known for the lead single on the soundtrack of 1983’s Flashdance and Dorian Harewood who’s starred in The Jesse Owens Story, Full Metal Jacket, Against All Odds and the Walker, Texas Ranger TV series.
I will defiantly give this spectacular movie a GIGANTIC 2thumbs up.