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Few Oscar-winning actors' names strike more terror into the minds of moviegoers than Cuba Gooding, Jr. To say that many of his career choices since winning the little gold guy have been questionable would be the understatement of the year - Chill Factor, anyone? For that reason, any film billed as "starring Cuba Gooding, Jr." deserves to be viewed with a suspect eye these days.

That's why it's mildly surprising that The Fighting Temptations actually looks somewhat promising. Gooding, Jr. plays an executive who must return to his small Alabama hometown when his aunt dies to collect his inheritance. Of course, there's a catch. He must create a gospel choir and lead it to success before laying his grubby hands on the money. Does he have to lead it to the national gospel choir championships? Of course, I'm sure there will be lots of fun with the Big City guy returning to his small town roots. Basically this is Sweet Home Alabama meets Sister Act minus Reese Witherspoon and the nuns, but plus Rue McClanahan!

Okay, so it's been done and sounds kind of goofy, but it also sounds like it could be fun. Director Lynn has had a hit and miss career and knows something about directing Academy Award winners who follow that up with a career skid as he directed Marisa Tomei to her Oscar win in My Cousin Vinny. The cast also features many notables from the R&B world, most prominantly Beyonce Knowles, so the choir and the soundtrack should wind up being pretty kickass. (Dan Krovich/BOP)

Vital statistics for The Fighting Temptations Main Cast Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyonce Knowles Supporting Cast Wanda Williams, Mike Epps, Faith Evans, Steve Harvey, Rue McClanahan Director Jonathan Lynn Screenwriter Elizabeth Hunter, Saladin Patterson, David Raynor Distributor Paramount Trailer Click Here for Trailer Rating PG-13 Running Time 123 minutes Screen Count 2,026 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for The Fighting Temptations
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Sweet Home Alabama	9/27/02	35.65	37.06	3293	10825.00	10825.0	127.21	132.26	3.57
Snow Dogs	1/18/02	23.71	24.65	2302	10299.00	10299.0	81.15	84.37	3.42
Drumline	12/13/02	12.61	13.11	1836	6868.00	6868.0	56.39	58.62	4.47
Sister Act	5/29/92	11.89	17.27	1430	8315.00	11621.0	139.61	202.85	11.74
Rat Race	8/17/01	11.66	12.44	2550	4573.00	4694.4	56.09	59.86	4.81
Sister Act 2	12/10/93	7.57	11.02	2132	3551.00	4974.8	56.97	82.97	7.53
Boat Trip	3/21/03	3.82	3.82	1714	2226.00	2226.0	8.59	8.59	2.25