The Preacher's Wife (1996)

Average rating

(59%)

Starring:	Denzel Washington \| Whitney Houston \| Courtney B. Vance \| Gregory Hines \| Loretta Devine \| Justin Pierre Edmund \| Jenifer Lewis
Director:	Penny Marshall
Studio:	WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	119 mins
Genres:	Children \| Comedy \| Romance
Languages:	English
Released:	June 15, 2006
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In this updating of 1947's "The Bishop's Wife," a Baptist preacher unknowingly pays too much attention to his congregation, and not enough to his dedicated wife and son. Enter Dudley, a flirtatious, sharp-dressed angel, to help the couple build a new church and, not incidentally, reignite their marriage. Academy Award Nominations: Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5

This 1990s version of The Bishop's Wife has Denzel Washington as the angel sent to Earth to save the marriage of pastor Courtney B Vance and his gospel-singing wife (Whitney Houston), as well as restoring Vance's wavering faith. Unsurprisingly, with diva Houston in the cast, there's lots of singing and close-ups of the singer, leaving Oscar-winner Washington and Vance on the sidelines to act as scenery for her musical moments. It tries to be one of those films you watch every holiday season, but falls well short of, say, It's a Wonderful Life.