Sparkle: Living up to its Luster ?

Alexis Teasdell | Staff Writer

Many people were interested to see the movie Sparkle, because it is Whitney Houston’s final performance on film, as well as rising young star Jordin Sparks’ first time on the silver screen. Needless to say, Sparkle hit theaters on August 17 with a bang.

A film about three sisters, the youngest sister, Sparkle, wants to become a music star in the Detroit area during the 1960’s. As one can imagine from the many other movies about this time, including the Temptations, Five Heartbeats and Cadillac Records, Sparkle endures some serious trials as a young and innocent girl in the music business. Moviegoers can only hope for the best for this young artist who audiences can’t help but fall in love with from the opening scene.

A positive aspect of this movie is that it produces awesome music. This was to be expected as it starred Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, and was about Motown music in the 1960s.

A negative aspect is the triteness of the movie. Quite frankly, it’s been done before and can be perceived as cheesy. When the trailer for the move was originally released, one immediately thought is this Dream Girls part 2? Another remake of the Jackson 5, or is this the beginning of What’s Love Got to Do With It (minus the relationship issue’s associated with that one.)? Yet, audiences were drawn to see it because of a deep love for the late and great Whitney Houston.

Also, audiences were drawn to see Sparkle based on the fact that that type of plot is an “oldie, but a goodie.” It can’t go wrong.

All in all, audiences will leave the theater having had a good laugh, a couple of cries and a song in their hearts. They may even possibly wind up tweeting how much they miss Whitney and how they were hoping for a Bodyguard 2.

In the movie, Houston, plays a mother who refuses to let her daughters be chewed up and spit out by the music industry the way that she once was. Secretly, despite their mother’s wishes, the daughters sneak out and pursue their dreams of a music
career behind her back.

Stix, played by Derek Luke, discovers the sisters after hearing a song written by the talented Sparkle, who lacks the confidence to shine.

Without a doubt, Houston’s last performance on film is, as one would expect, exceptional from her acting to her solo of, “His eye is on the Sparrow.” Season six American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, also wows audiences, blossoming as a singer as well as an actress.

Overall, Sparkle is a movie that audiences don’t want to miss! So far, the movie has had moderate success landing the number five spot at the box offices its opening weekend.