Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce Knowles clash and love in movie 'The Fighting Temptations'

Jet, Sept 22, 2003

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles find themselves clashing, working and loving in the new comedy The Fighting Temptations.

In the film, Gooding is Darrin Fox. a superslick New York advertising executive who makes a trip back to his childhood home of Monte Carlo. GA, to attend his Aunt Sally's funeral and claim his $150.000 inheritance. He discovers that there's just one little catch to it. To get the money, Fox must create a gospel choir and lead the group to a victory in a major competition.

Even that sounds feasible until he starts searching around and discovers that the town is full of tin ears. They all love music, but shouldn't attempt singing beyond the shower. Fox even goes to the local jail in his frustrated attempt to find a few folks who can at least carry a tune.

Just when he is about to give up and head back to the big city, he discovers a beautiful nightclub singer with both a look and a voice to die for. His miracle, Lilly (Knowles), could turn things around if he could convince her to help him out.

Some of the town's social pillars don't care much for Lilly because of her past sexual history. But Darrin loves her jazzy style of singing and gorgeous looks.

"This whole film is about community," Gooding said. "It's also about how a man can rediscover his life by going back home where he finds himself through finding the talent within others."

Knowles made her big-screen debut in the hit Austin Powers Goldmember movie. However, in The Fighting Temptations she makes her feature film singing debut as the lead singer.

"In the script, Lilly is very earthy," Knowles explained. "I saw a lot of comedic and dramatic opportunities in playing this character, and I knew I'd have a lot of fun with it. I was also drawn to the script as a whole. It's so full of attitude and energy."

Gooding agreed. "That's what Beyonce is all about--energy. She lights up the screen, and she can just pull this gift out of her voice that's simply awesome."

Besides wanting a role that would stretch her even more than Goldmember, Knowles said she jumped at the chance to work with Gooding.

"He's incredibly dynamic and always maintained a great attitude," she said. "All throughout the project, he kept everyone in good spirits--singing together, dancing and just sharing stories."

Mike Epps, who performed in All About the Benjamins and Friday After Next, gets a chance to show off his great comic timing as Lucius, a man who drives around town in an old Cadillac and never stops gossiping. "Now he's a talker!" Epps said. "He's just a happy-go-lucky guy, pretty much the opposite of the uptight Darrin."

Also featured in the movie are LaTanya Richardson as Paulina Pritchett, a strict woman who ands up being Darrin's bitter enemy.

"In essence, Paulina is Darrin's nemesis, one of the biggest obstacles he has to overcome, and the best thing about her is that she can see right through his slick talk," she pointed out "After all, Paulina's a pretty sharp talker herself, not to mention the only person in the church who Claims to know God personally."

Then there's Steve Harvey, the town's disc jockey who finds himself spinning funny stories as well as records.

"This film rocks, and I mean that in every sense of the word," he shared. "I'm really excited to be involved in a project that brings the music of some of these extraordinary artists to the screen."

The movie features some of the biggest names in gospel and R&B music including Angle Stone, the O'Jays, Faith Evans, Rev. Shirley Caesar, Montel Jordan, T-Bone, Ann Nesby, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Zane and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Even Rue McClanahan, who was the sexy and sassy Blanche Deveraux on "The Golden Girls," got to show off her gospel chords along with those of stage veteran Melba Moore.

The soundtrack, which will be released in conjunction with the movie features major voices as well, including Missy Elliott, MC Lyte and Free along with Beyonce.

Knowles has high hopes that fans will be very moved when they hear the title track Fighting Temptation "Once you hear the song, and all the music in this film, you can't help but fall in love with it," she predicted. "You'll definitely get emotional. You might become happy or even sad, but your heart will get full. All the songs are touching and spiritual, and that's what the movie itself is like."

Loretha Jones, executive music producer of the film, said hundreds of singers in Georgia were auditioned for the movie.

"We auditioned over 600 singers in Columbus, GA, and thousands in Atlanta and we ended with numerous locals as well as the Pace Sisters, several members of the Morehouse (College) Glee Club and Shirley Caesar's background stagers for the choir that opens the film," she said.

For the singers who had speaking roles, Jones said officials wanted to be certain that they could act and sing.

"For example, the O'Jays, who are singing legends, landed the role el the barbers who sing the Paul Simon song, Love Me Like a Rock," she said. "They'd never acted before, but because the story, lends itself to what they do naturally, it didn't take long for them to become comfortable with the acting process."