I recently caught both “Sister Act” movies on television, and was reminded of the throwback to the ’90s these present. Children of the ’90s will surely remember films like this, “Cop and ½,” etc.; comedies blended with police procedurals, semi-serious but fun, while simple in their delivery. “Sister Act” came out in 1992, starred Whoopi Goldberg as a Reno lounge singer who witnesses a horrible crime and must go into witness protection until the trial. She lands amidst a group of nuns at the St. Francis convent in San Francisco. The film ultimately works due to its touching moments and laughs that Goldberg brings to the table, even if it is devoid of much depth or emotion.
“Sister Act” uses a simple plot device: Goldberg’s Delores Van Cartier is hidden in the convent, renamed ‘Sister Mary Clarence,’ with only the convent’s Mother Superior (Maggie Smith, who’s appeared of late in T.V.s “Downtown Abbey” as Violet Crawley) knowing her true identity. The film builds an interesting struggle here: the head nun is by the book, but not to be a burden, but rather because she really cares about her fellow nuns. We see inner city San Francisco here, graffitied walls, rough streets, and street youths outside. However, these are only thinly painted with menace, something more off the reels of “Dangerous Minds” than “Training Day.” Rounding out the cast, we have likeable nuns such as sisters Mary Roberts (Wendy Makkena), Mary Patrick (“Hocus Pocus’” Kathy Najimy), and Mary Lazarus (Mary Wickles), who all have humorous scenes throughout.
“Sister Act” has some touching moments, such as a late night talk Goldberg has with Mary Roberts, or a humorous scene where Delores is caught sneaking to a bar, telling Roberts and Patrick she’s ‘seeing a man about a car for the convent.’ The Sisters’ naivete aside, the film gets some credit for not poking fun at nuns, or the Catholic Church, where I’m sure there were so many opportunities to do so (especially given the fact that Delores was a lounge singer in Reno). In fact, when Mother Superior mentions Mary Clarence is from Reno, the nuns remark at the sinful nature of the town not as something to shun, but as something to help. It’s a nice touch, and writer Joseph Howard deserves some kudos for not presenting the whole things as religious satire or slapstick comedy.
Where the film struggles is in deciding on pacing and plotting. Due to a mole in the police department, Delores must stay in the convent longer than she wants, and spends most of the film’s first act coming to odds with Mother Superior or struggling with the nun lifestyle. And then, almost too suddenly, she is put in charge of the convent’s struggling choir. Of course, the scenes as she helps the tone deaf group become a cohesive and spirited choir (their high energy and rock-inspired new sound even garnering the attention of the Pope) are fun, but lack the emotional unveiling they should have. The film adds some niceties here, such as a group of inner city kids entering the church to see what the commotion is, but are then really just dropped. And the film’s intended climax, where the Sisters perform for the Pope, is sandwiched between the re-emergence of the threat on Delores’ life, which kind of robs it of its effect.
Acting-wise the movie is okay, even if the characters are cookie cooter. Goldberg is extremely likeable, and you believe her progression from self-centered lounge singer to someone who really cares about these nuns. I liked all the nuns, especially Makkena and Maggie Smith, and Goldberg has a great chemistry with them all. The film drops the ball with Detective Bill Nunn (Eddie Souther), and the film’s villains, played by Harvey Keitel (as Delores’ ex-lover), and two henchmen (Robert Miranda and Richard Portnow). Souther’s scenes are limited and exist as needed plot rather than flesh and blood character. And Keitel is so thinly painted you’re never really afraid of him. As such, his two henchmen just come off as comical halfwits who garner humor by simply being incompetent.
Overall, “Sister Act” is not a bad film for what it is. It’s simple, funny throughout, and is a dying breed of comedies that are enjoyable while not stooping to the faux pas of simply being raunchy. Goldberg entertains throughout, and the film is warm due to its restraint and the solid laughs it brings to the table. The film isn’t a show stealer, but its fun and harmless entertainment. If that’s enough for you, give “Sister Act” a try.
– by Mark Ziobro
