Emile Ardolino
Sister Act

LA RECENSIONE

Rai has recently aired yet another rerun of Sister Act, but even having watched it at least twenty times, it's always a pleasure to watch it again. No one else could take on the role of the legendary Whoopi Goldberg, awkward yet brilliant, playing a grand, revolutionary, clumsy troublemaker with a heart of gold.
Yes, in short, it's the typical feel-good film where everything ends well (ultra-well, even the stern Mother Superior has a change of heart, the Pope lets himself enjoy listening to the singing...), but no one ever thought of "Sister Act", not even its producers, as an Oscar-worthy film.

And despite that, it was a box office hit overseas. It's something fun, a movie to watch to lift your spirits, especially for the music.

Which ultimately are the highlight of this lovely film: everything revolves around the re-arrangements that Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg, who at one point in the sequel claims, with her usual sass, "Sister Mary Cosetta"), a musical performer, creates from the usual dull (and in this case off-key) church hymns. Who doesn't remember the famous "Aaaaaalleeeeeeluuuuuujaaaa...."?

In short, with all due proportions, these arrangements reminded me of the transformation from Creedence's Proud Mary to Ike and Tina Turner's blues/rock version.

A really cute, cheerful, charming film, beyond the usual fairy tale that it is.

P.S.: the Latin pronounced with an American accent is super cool!