Sister Act

Release Date: May 29, 1992

Watch Date: March 21, 2024

“Whoopi Goldberg stars as a sassy, low-rent lounge singer forced to hid from the mob in the last place anyone would ever look for her – a convent. While she’s there, her irreverent behavior attracts a flock of faithful followers and turns the nuns’ tone-deaf choir into a soulful chorus of swingin’ singin’ sisters. But when the group earns rave reviews, her sudden celebrity jeopardizes her hidden identity. Harvey Keitel and Kathy Najimy join a heavenly cast in this habit-forming comedy bursting with ’60s Motown hits.”

   This movie feels like it was custom made for me.

   I love Motown songs, I love church choirs, I love traditional church music. So, a church choir singing both? That works pretty well for me. Add in some comedy? And you have one incredibly enjoyable movie.

   It surprises me, honestly, that Delores didn’t realize her boyfriend was a mob boss, or at least a member of the mob. He’s got the slick backed hair, he’s Italian, he’s got cronies, he runs a casino. I mean she had to know he was up to some shady business. Maybe she didn’t think he’d ever killed anyone, but she had to know he was a criminal.

   I think she adapts to nun life very quickly, all things considered, and I sort of like that. It wasn’t that she couldn’t fit in, or she was against the structure of the church, she just needed to find something that spoke to her talents and interests. A lot of people with very chaotic energy seem to calm down when you find some way to direct that energy into something they love, and that’s not because you’ve controlled it but because they were just searching for something to give them purpose and meaning.

   I think my favorite bit is the end credits, weirdly enough, with all the magazine covers sort of finishing up the story and giving her the happy ending and success that Dolores was looking for since the beginning. I think it was a cute way to wrap up her story without needing to get into the nitty gritty details of it all, and allowing the film to end on a triumphant ending in front of the Pope.

   Of course there’s a sequel so I’m imagining it doesn’t all stay hunky dory for Dolores forever.

   All in all this film is a really solid 90s film, and it definitely has those vibes. Most people look back on it fondly, and it even inspired its own Broadway musical – which I think is the ultimate sign of success for a movie musical.

   Oh, and because Bob will be annoyed if I don’t mention it – since he was someone who grew up on the poorer side of a big city – it’s not great that everyone seems worried for the safety of the nuns in the ‘bad neighborhood’ that turns out to be primarily occupied by minorities. Not the best look.