Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

The movie features a stressed Cuba Gooding Jr faced with creating a choir and winning a gospel music competition in order to inherit loads of money. Dispirited he discovers jazz singer Beyonce Knowles and things look up from there. The soundtrack features plenty of music from the cast of the movie and various soul singers including contributions from various O'Jays, Beyonce, Angie Stone, Destiny's Child and P Diddy, Missy Elliott and others. The Christian music credentials are provided by Shirley Caesar, Ann Nesby and an interesting appearance from talented rapper T-Bone. Maybe his song "To Da River" with Zane and Montell Jordan will create mainstream interest. Let's hope so! Most of the material here has an inspirational flavour to it consistent with the movie but without ever doing too much to alienate a mainstream audience. Shame really, so you get Beyonce doing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and The O'Jays providing a version of Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like A Rock". Faith Evans does a strong version of the Donna Summer classic "Heaven Knows" and the Beyonce material is, of course, going to be popular because of her emergence as an R&B icon. So long as you don't expect a huge amount in terms of gospel message, this is enjoyable. And me? I do want to see the movie!

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