Instead of 1950s Harlem, the eldest "Sister" and her sisters (Delores and Sparkle) were making things happen in 1960s Detroit. In the city of Motown, we see each sister's rising and failed ambitions.
I didn't see the remake on the day of its release. I saw the original (1976), so skepticism was high. There are flaws, but there are hidden treasures that make it a nice rendition:
Location, location, location - What better place to pursue music in the 1960s other than Detroit? Motown established acts that are still in movies and commercials. Not only is the music memorable, but so is the socio-political events. Mention of the riots raised eyebrows at the dinner table when Satin (Mike Epps) shows up. His position on the topic makes him a "coon" who later becomes ashamed of himself.
In stories of aspiring talent, it's usually a dream to escape the life they were born into. In the 1960s, industrialized Detroit made it possible for families to slice a piece of the American dream: beautiful home, new car, and trendy clothes. The sisters wanted to achieve more, even though they weren't doing bad, which is a nice alteration from the original.
Character development - Supporting characters shared their stories. Delores (Tika Sumpter) held her own! Her role in the family stayed true to the original, but we learn more about her personal motivation and goals. Before this, we didn't know where she was going. Emma, or Mama, (Whitney Houston) was portrayed in a different light too. In the original, Mama was a maid. In the remake, Emma was running things.
Kudos to the Akils (Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane) for broadening the antagonist spectrum. Usually, the "bad boy" is a drug dealer, but not here. In the remake, he's actually a working man with issues. Last but not least, Sister (Carmen Ejogo). She shared more of her past from a young adult perspective. In the 1976 version, we were introduced to a teenager who knew how to sing and started using drugs.
Domestic violence - These moments usually show a man attacking a woman. Well, Sister isn't Satin's punching bag! It's still considered domestic violence, even when a woman fights back. Bottom line, love shouldn't hurt.
Conflict Resolution - The film did a great job handling redemption. Originally, Sister fell in a downward spiral and that was it. Now we see characters work through their problems. Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) sets her past delusions of life straight in order to move forward. This time, we have a better idea of how far she can go. Despite a troubling past, Mama and Sister were able to work things out. Delores confronted stereotypes, then moved on to achieve opposite of the 'norm'. Love that Levi (Omari Hardwick) redeemed himself in the eyes of Sister and Satin.
Overall, the film was okay. I wish there was more to the Sparkle-Stix (Derek Luke) relationship. Costumes were overly modernized. Oh well, consider it a fashionable takeaway. R. Kelly was criticized for his musical direction, but, songs from the 1976 Sparkle will be remembered most. Sister and Sparkle's singing weren't as moving as the original singers (or even EnVogue's cover of Giving Him Something He Can Feel).
Remakes are difficult to make. You have to maintain the reputation of the first, and carve out a piece of originality for a new generation. The remake maintained the storyline and gave its own shine.
I didn't see the remake on the day of its release. I saw the original (1976), so skepticism was high. There are flaws, but there are hidden treasures that make it a nice rendition:
Location, location, location - What better place to pursue music in the 1960s other than Detroit? Motown established acts that are still in movies and commercials. Not only is the music memorable, but so is the socio-political events. Mention of the riots raised eyebrows at the dinner table when Satin (Mike Epps) shows up. His position on the topic makes him a "coon" who later becomes ashamed of himself.
In stories of aspiring talent, it's usually a dream to escape the life they were born into. In the 1960s, industrialized Detroit made it possible for families to slice a piece of the American dream: beautiful home, new car, and trendy clothes. The sisters wanted to achieve more, even though they weren't doing bad, which is a nice alteration from the original.
Character development - Supporting characters shared their stories. Delores (Tika Sumpter) held her own! Her role in the family stayed true to the original, but we learn more about her personal motivation and goals. Before this, we didn't know where she was going. Emma, or Mama, (Whitney Houston) was portrayed in a different light too. In the original, Mama was a maid. In the remake, Emma was running things.
Kudos to the Akils (Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane) for broadening the antagonist spectrum. Usually, the "bad boy" is a drug dealer, but not here. In the remake, he's actually a working man with issues. Last but not least, Sister (Carmen Ejogo). She shared more of her past from a young adult perspective. In the 1976 version, we were introduced to a teenager who knew how to sing and started using drugs.
Domestic violence - These moments usually show a man attacking a woman. Well, Sister isn't Satin's punching bag! It's still considered domestic violence, even when a woman fights back. Bottom line, love shouldn't hurt.
Conflict Resolution - The film did a great job handling redemption. Originally, Sister fell in a downward spiral and that was it. Now we see characters work through their problems. Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) sets her past delusions of life straight in order to move forward. This time, we have a better idea of how far she can go. Despite a troubling past, Mama and Sister were able to work things out. Delores confronted stereotypes, then moved on to achieve opposite of the 'norm'. Love that Levi (Omari Hardwick) redeemed himself in the eyes of Sister and Satin.
Overall, the film was okay. I wish there was more to the Sparkle-Stix (Derek Luke) relationship. Costumes were overly modernized. Oh well, consider it a fashionable takeaway. R. Kelly was criticized for his musical direction, but, songs from the 1976 Sparkle will be remembered most. Sister and Sparkle's singing weren't as moving as the original singers (or even EnVogue's cover of Giving Him Something He Can Feel).
Remakes are difficult to make. You have to maintain the reputation of the first, and carve out a piece of originality for a new generation. The remake maintained the storyline and gave its own shine.