Critique: Sparkle (2012)

I enjoyed every song in this musical. Usually only one or two do anything for me but really, the soundtrack blew me away. Sparkle and sisters Tammy and Dee are great singers.

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 

Honestly, this film could have easily been classed as a comedy and nobody would complain.

Sparkle asks if Stix will be her manager then comes out with the fantastic line, “Then you manage to get my sisters.”

Dee, the sister that goes to medical school, is so funny it’s painful. She’s so much funnier than the comedians in the film! I could have quoted her entire script to demonstrate but there was just so much to choose from.

A reverend goes on and on with his prayer before eating. Someone says, “Amen” and the reverend just continues on.

“I want to sign you but I need to see you waking up in the morning. Sorry, see you in the light of day is a better expression.” It’s the perfect mix of flirty and funny.

 

There are several occasions when people just seem plain cruel

Satin is so rude, even if his hair is glorious.

Tammy’s mother doesn’t approve of Tammy’s fiancé so Tammy says, “Just keeping a man is a whole lot better than you did.”

Their mother tells Sparkle she’s just “Another little girl with a dream, thinking she’s different from the rest.” I honestly understand that creative careers aren’t stable and parents want their children to have stable careers. But talking to your child like that?

Sparkle tries to talk to her mother when she moves out. Her mother ignores her then pointedly laughs. I honestly don’t understand this. How can anyone look at themselves after cutting their children from their lives? To ignore them like they don’t even exist?

 

There are other things to think about.

Stix asks Sparkle why she doesn’t sing. “I’m no Diana or Arethra.” Stix replies, “You right. You Sparkle.” You are your own person and that is more than worthwhile. Yes he’s thinking of it from a profit perspective but it’s still a nice comment.

When the sisters smoke, it forms a halo above their heads. I don’t know if that was intentional or accidental but choosing to have that in the film was a good creative decision.

When the sisters perform together, their dancing isn’t coordinated. I don’t know why somebody didn’t pick up on it and correct it.

We know that Sparkle has a good voice but we don’t hear its amazing power until the very end. One half of me wonders why she was holding back; the other half acknowledges that the shock factor works wonders.