Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit (1993)

 

Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit - 1993

Coming up next is 1993's "Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit", the sequel to the highly-acclaimed and immensely popular "Sister Act".  In this story, we see singer Deloris Van Cartier head back under cover to help her nun friends save a school from closing.

The film's cast includes Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena, Mary Wickes, James Coburn, Michael Jeter, Barnard Hughes, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alanna Ubach, Ryan Toby, Devin Kaman, Ron Johnson, Brad Sullivan, Thomas Gottschalk, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ellen Albertini Dow, and Jenifer Lewis

After a group of nun's helped hide her from her mobster boyfriend and she turned them into a world-renowned choir, Deloris Van Cartier has become a very successful singer in Las Vegas.

On the final night of her show, Deloris's old friends come to see her and say that they have been sent by Mother Superior to get her because her help is urgently needed.

So, it's back to San Francisco for Deloris.  When Mother Superior sees her, the older nun welcomes her back with open arms.

Mother Superior wastes no time in getting down to business.  The nuns are now teachers, and the school they are teaching at is being threatened with closure unless its reputation can be improved.  Plus, the students are extremely unruly and undisciplined.  Mother Superior wants Deloris to teach music and help get things in order.

Reluctantly, Deloris agrees, and it's back in the habit she goes, along with having to cope with the austere living conditions of a nun.  Once again, Deloris becomes Sister Mary Clarence.

The school is headed by a group of very strict monks who would be very upset if they found out that Deloris wasn't really a nun.  Also, Mr. Crisp, a hostile man who is bent on the school's closure, makes things difficult.

Right away, Deloris is confronted with a group of unruly students.  Never fear, she can out-attitude any attitude they throw in her direction.

Once she gets their behavior under control, Deloris decides that the best way to work with the students is to turn them into a choir.  Naturally, the kids balk at the idea.

So, she takes them on a little field trip to see the famous singing nuns to give them a preview of what a proper choir could be.

An idea comes up that once the kids are in fine singing form, they should enter a choir competition in order to save the school.

The kids are definitely not without talent.  A couple of students sing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" inside the school chapel.

Once they're ready, Deloris has the kids sing "O Happy Day" in front of the entire student body.

At the competition, the kids are pretty nervous once they see their competition.

The choir turns out a fantastic urban contemporary gospel performance of "Joyful, Joyful".

It should come as no surprise that the choir wins the entire competition, enabling the school to remain open.

At the close of the film, the kids find out that Deloris really isn't a nun and according to rumor she is a Las Vegas showgirl.  Deloris says in response that "I am not, nor have I ever been a Las Vegas showgirl.  I am a headliner."

Cast rundown:

   Whoopi Goldberg................................Deloris Van Cartier

   Maggie Smith.....................................Mother Superior

   Kathy Najimy......................................Sister Mary Patrick

   Wendy Makkena..................................Sister Mary Robert

   Mary Wickes.......................................Sister Mary Lazarus

   James Coburn.....................................Mr. Crisp

   Michael Jeter.......................................Father Ignatius

   Barnard Hughes..................................Father Maurice

   Lauryn Hill..........................................Rita Watson

   Jennifer Love Hewitt............................Margaret

   Alanna Ubach......................................Maria

   Ryan Toby...........................................Ahmal

   Devin Kaman......................................Frankie

   Ron Johnson.......................................Sketch

   Brad Sullivan......................................Father Thomas

   Thomas Gottschalk..............................Father Wolfgang

   Sheryl Lee Ralph.................................Florence Watson

   Ellen Albertini Dow..............................Choir Nun

   Jenifer Lewis......................................Vegas Backup Singer

And that's all for Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit.  The "Sister Act" films are enduringly popular.  In December 2020, Whoopi Goldberg announced that she would be reprising the role of Deloris Van Cartier in a film she will co-produce with Tyler Perry.  The soundtrack is also still popular.  In 2015, the arrangement for "Joyful, Joyful" was used at a royal wedding in Sweden.

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The Preacher's Wife (1996)

 

The Preacher's Wife - 1996

Coming up next we have 1996's "The Preacher's Wife", a remake of "The Bishop's Wife".  Here we see an angel who has come to earth to help a weary preacher.  As he does, he forms a close bond with the preacher's wife, which threatens to undo all the angel is tasked with doing.

The film's cast includes Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines, Jenifer Lewis, Loretta Devine, Justin Pierre Edmund, Lionel Richie, Cissy Houston, and Victor Williams.

Rev. Henry Biggs is the preacher at St. Matthew's Church in New York.  His wife, Julia, leads the choir with her powerhouse voice.

And Julia's not above using the choir to accent certain points of her husband's sermons, which, on occasion, can annoy Henry.

This Christmas season, Henry is feeling exhausted and a bit discouraged.  Alone in the bedroom, he asks God for some help.

That help comes in the form of an angel named Dudley.  Henry is extremely reluctant to accept that Dudley is an angel, but since he needs the help, he agrees to have Dudley as an assistant, though his true identity is known only to Henry.

When Dudley reports for his first day to work as the preacher's new "assistant", he makes a very favorable impression on Julia and especially on her mother, Marguerite.

One of the things on Henry's mind is business tycoon Joe Hamilton.  Joe owns the mortgage on St. Matthew's, and he is pressuring Henry to have it torn down in order to build a flashy, modern church.  Henry is extremely reluctant to do so, but Joe informs him that the church is coming down whether he's on board or not.

With Henry's mind on other matters and neglecting his wife and son, Dudley spends time with Julia.  They get along great, and Dudley also gets along with the Biggs' son, Jeremiah.

Dudley arranges a date for Henry and Julia, however Henry must break the date so he can minister to some sick parishioners.  Henry tells Dudley to take Julia.  He takes her to a nightclub that Henry and Julia used to know well.  Julia even gets on stage to sing "I Believe In You And Me".

When they return from their night out, Henry has waited up and is clearly jealous.  He tells Dudley to keep away from his wife.

However, that doesn't stop Dudley, who continues to spend time with Julia.  They have an enjoyable time ice skating.

Julia's mother Marguerite cautions Dudley to be careful where Julia is concerned.  Dudley says that he's confident Julia will forget him as soon as he leaves.  Marguerite says, "She'll forget herself if you don't.  Now Dudley, you are a charming person.  Go charm somebody else, okay?"

Dudley goes to an empty St. Matthews to think about his mission and what he must do to get it back on track.

Later, he engineers a set of events that bring Henry and Julia closer and rekindles the love they feel for each other.  He also pays a visit to Joe Hamilton.

At the St. Matthews' Christmas service, Julia participates in the children's pageant and sings "Who Would Imagine A King?".

Henry gives a powerful sermon that revitalizes his congregation.  With Joe Hamilton's blessing, the church will stay open and continue serving the needs of the community.

Afterwards, Julia leads the choir in singing "I Love The Lord".  Henry and Julia embrace at the song's conclusion.  During this song, Dudley leaves the church and with him all memories involving him are gone from the minds of the church people.

As a finale to the Christmas service, Julia and the choir sing a rendition of "Joy To The World" that has the entire congregation on its feet, including Joe Hamilton.

The Biggs family returns home and sees a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, which Dudley had decorated before he left.  Though they don't remember him, he'll always be present as part of their Christmas decorations.

Cast rundown:

   Denzel Washington............................Dudley

   Whitney Houston...............................Julia Biggs

   Courtney B. Vance.............................Rev. Henry Biggs

   Gregory Hines...................................Joe Hamilton

   Jenifer Lewis.....................................Marguerite Coleman

   Loretta Devine..................................Beverly

   Justin Pierre Edmund.........................Jeremiah Biggs

   Lionel Richie.....................................Britsloe

   Cissy Houston..................................Mrs. Havergal

   Victor Williams..................................Robbie

And that's all for The Preacher's Wife.  Originally, Denzel Washington wanted Julia Roberts for the main role of Julia Biggs.  He later thought Whitney Houston would be a better choice, and he pursued her for more than a year until she finally agreed.  During a 2009 interview, Whitney Houston revealed that her marijuana and cocaine habits were extremely bad.  There was not a day during the shooting that she was not on some sort of drug.

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