“Sparkle,” the remake of the 1976 film starring Irene Cara, is like a great song with a bad chorus. Just when it looks like it’s settling into a smooth groove, it hits a sour note.
The remake moves the time period of the story about the rise and fall of a girl singing group from the 1950s to the ’60s and shifts the location to Detroit. “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks takes over the Cara role as Sparkle Williams, a mousy young woman with a big voice. She and her siblings – Dolores (Tika Sumpter) and Sister (Carmen Ejogo) – defy their controlling mother (Whitney Houston) to chase a singing career.
Their journey is filled with grand opportunities, dangerous temptations and deep heartbreak. Director Salim Akil and writer Mara Brock Akil have given the updated version a few sharp beats that work at times, such as the shift to the home of Motown. But at other times they fall flat.
Because this is Houston’s final performance, her work will be examined more than any acting she’s done before. Houston was always a better singer than actor, and that doesn’t change with “Sparkle.” She has one good scene around the dinner table. The rest of her work looks tired.
The film does show that Sparks has the kind of sparkle that will carry her far should she continue to act. The role requires her to grow as Sparkle faces each success and failure. Sparks handles the transformation while also providing a dazzling voice.