On P List of Movie Reviews

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The Preacher's Wife (1996)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 3/15

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3/15: A low-key black version of It's a Wonderful Life, The Preacher's Wife is actually a remake of The Bishop's Wife, a film that I hadn't seen before.

Giving a one-dimensional performance while flashing his 100-megawatt smile, Denzel Washington is featured in a supporting role of an angel while Whitney Houston provides the songs. Her acting is more improved compared to The Bodyguard. Years later, the diva confessed she was on drugs throughout the filming. Now, this is where it gets confusing.

As the plot is about saving a church, freeing a falsely accused boy from jail, and reuniting a son with an orphaned boy, I keep getting the feeling the filmmakers just wanted to bring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston together as a couple because they look so good together. So, why not ditch the bullshit that's The Bishop's Wife by making a romantic movie instead? They could've done six to eight of them like how it was for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

There are moments related to Julia's marriage that I don't care much for because the preacher is all grumpy and unappreciative, yet Whitney Houston is one of the most beautiful women in the world? Speaking of saving the church, why not be creative by making money off her music? She has the voice and looks...DUH!

Taking a gander at the son's room and counting how many toys he has, I feel the family is fine on their own without the help of an angel. When Dudley gets involved, all he does is perform magic tricks and touch people to make them change their minds or feel better. What happened to the power of reasoning and negotiating? I'm 100% indifferent whether or not the church is shut down. After all, we've got more than enough in the United States. So, why not send Dudley to Africa or some third world country to provide food for starving children?

All in all, Hollywood should've made a different movie featuring only Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.