Jordan Sparks and the late Whitney Houston star in “Sparkle,”a film set in the 60′s that chronicles the rise of a gifted singer who must overcome the pitfalls of the music business while trying to keep her family together.
On the outset the film begins strong with a story of three sisters who form a “girl group” in the Motown era, but begins to fall apart in the first 30 minutes into a cliche-ridden mess. Additionally, the soundtrack and musical performances for “Sparkle” are first rate, it’s just that the story itself is hackneyed and well-worn, making the audience strain to keep focused.
The late Whitney Houston puts in a decent performance as the matriarch who shares the “gift” with her daughter, but unfortunately the direction is sloppy and unfocused. Jordan Sparks as the title character is the best and most watchable part of the film.
But, in the end, it is still an old story lacking any pizazz to keep it interesting. Skip the film, buy the soundtrack.
“Sparkle” gets a C- and is rated PG-13
