Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

pointyfilippa The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

Ben Larson Whitney Houston's last film. That alone is enough to want to see it over and over. She constantly reminds us of the tragic person she became, and of the smart, engaging entertainment persona she once was.But that is not all. The soundtrack is fantastic" Houston is joined by some really really great singers: Sly and the Family Stone, Sarah Vaughan, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Aretha Franklin, Jordin Sparks, and many more. The best soundtrack I have heard in ages.In many ways Sparkle disappoints. The editing is haphazard, the cinematography too dark, and there are holes in the story. But, oh, the music! And it is Houston's last film.

MLDinTN The main problem with this movie is that there weren't any great songs. All the songs were just so-so, nothing stood out. If your movie is about someone making it in the music business, then there needs to be a great song. Besides that nothing was great about any of the characters nor the acting. Jordan Sparks isn't much of an actress. Everything was so cliché in this. Youngest sister has the most talent but is to scared to be the lead. Oldest sister is the lead but hooks up with the wrong guy and begins using drugs and being abused. Then there is the mom who tried to be a star herself, but succumbed to the evils of show business. Just so done before.FINAL VERDICT: Skip it.

tavm Last February 12, I reviewed the original Sparkle that starred Irene Cara in the title role and in which I noted Whitney Houston's death the previous day because of her role in the remake which I'm reviewing now. Ms. Houston, who was also one of the exec producers, is very good as the mother of the three daughters who initially form a girl group of singers even though I noticed that her speaking voice was now quite worn from her years of drugs. But her singing her one song here was still great so she left this viewer still wanting more from her though I know we'll just have her recordings and movie and TV appearances to look for now but that should be good enough considering how much she contributed to the entertainment world. Now about this remake: With some changes in story and characterization, not to mention period and location, it's still about one young woman's dream of writing and singing good hit songs despite her mother's initial disapproval. And "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks turns out to be somewhat of a good actress to make the character of Sparkle shine though of course it's really her singing those now-classic Curtis Mayfield songs from the original movie that really puts her through. The most impressive turns are those who play her two sisters especially the one who eventually ends up going to medical school (Tika Sumpter) whenever she confronts her other drug addled sister (Carmen Ejogo) about her abuse at the hands of her comedian husband. As for which version is better, I say this one though it seemed to lose some dramatic edge near the end compared to the original one. Still, the longer length did help open up the story and characterizations enough that I was mostly satisfied so on that note, I highly recommend this version of Sparkle.

C. Sean Currie (hypestyle) Sparkle is a musical drama starring former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. The plot, centered in Detroit of the late 1960s, focuses on a tight-knit family of young women who form a pop vocal group and pursue music-business fame, all while trying to avoid the wrath of their mother. The late Whitney Houston portrays Emma, the family matriarch.Boutique manager Emma keeps her girls on a short leash. 19-year-old Sparkle dutifully keeps a job in the same store as Emma, and she participates in choir with older sister Dee (Tika Sumpter), a medical school candidate. Eldest sister Sister/Tammi (Carmen Ejogo) is recently returned from a reportedly unsuccessful stint in New York City. Sparkle composes secular songs in secret, and lately has been sneaking out to nightclubs where the outgoing Sister performs the material to excited crowds.Stix (Derek Luke), an aspiring music executive, sees both of them at the club and at church. He convinces the sisters to make a run for the big time, with him as manager. Soon, the trio of 'Sister and her Sisters' becomes a prominent local act, gaining the attention of major music labels. Meanwhile, Stix and Sparkle (whose shyness belies her own singing talent) become smitten with one another.Mike Epps convincingly plays the devious Satin: a "crossover" standup comedian who desperately wants to rebuild a rapport with African American audiences. His smooth ways—and apparent affluence—quickly win him over with Sister, but his doping and physical abuse figure to derail everyone's goals. Ejogo, easily the dramatic anchor of the film, is a revelation as Sister: a worldly and blunt counterpoint to the innocence of Sparkle, she carries the most resentment against Emma, and suffers the most by narrative's end.Houston has, in some sense, a thankless role here. Emma's stern church-lady clichés dominate her character's arc. Houston plays her as devoutly religious but visibly world-weary; the plot hints at—but never fully reveals—Emma's stunted singing career, and the film suffers for it. The audience is expected to fill in the blanks on why she's bitter. Several lines of dialogue and plot points inadvertently have an eerie ring to them in light of Houston's untimely death.The film is a remake of the 1976 original which has since gained an enduring cult status. Lead producer Bishop T.D. Jakes, co-writer Mara Brock-Akil and director Salim Akil infuse the film with standard gospel-play themes of temptation, falling from grace, forgiveness and redemption. Whether familiar with the original or not, viewers shouldn't be disappointed.