I ended up enjoying this more than I expected, but it is still barely above the level of a television film. Some nice, toe-tapping musical numbers keep things fun, though the plot itself is nothing to write home about.
In the beginning of the film, two identical twins are separated shortly after birth, as their parents are only capable of raising one. The other is adopted by a minister. He grows up resistant to his adoptive father's wishes for him to also enter the ministry, instead developing an interest in music. He is especially interested in the career of a new music superstar who, unbeknownst to him, is his long-lost brother. Their paths nearly cross a few times throughout the years, and the effectiveness of these moments in the film is mixed. In one sense, they work. The actors do their best to sell the subtext of the scenes. Often, however, the moments are very contrived and coincidental. Even when they're pulled off well, it's hard to silence the voice in the back of your head pointing out the unlikelihood of it all. It's all a matter of setup. Some of their near meetings are set up well, and they're the ones that come across the best. The others, however, feel like lazy writing, what you'd expect from a melodramatic television movie.
None of the film's songs are particularly memorable, but most of them do have a nice beat and are entertaining enough in the moment. They elevate the film slightly from what the plot deserves. The contrived writing can go down a little easier when it's accompanied by a tune that's fun to listen to.
The film is inoffensive and pleasant enough to watch, but there's no single factor strong enough to merit a recommendation. It's a good example of a time-waster: good for killing an hour or two, but you're unlikely to remember much about it a week later.
C+
No comments:
Post a Comment