The Preacher's Wife (1996)

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I loved whitney in the bodyguard. I also love musical movies if its contemporary. I also love denzel. I am also a christian. Therefore i thought i would love this movie. Wow, what a disappointment. I didnt like whitneys acting in this at all. I also didnt like the storyline for denzel. The angel was supposed to help them but he falls in love with the wife??? Noooo. Not my cup of tea. Denzels acting in this was subpar. The husband and the mother were the only ones who had good acting in this, but not enough to carry the film. Boring movie.

As a rule I don't tend to warm to remakes of classic films however the Penny Marshall directed Christmas story "The Preacher's Wife", is a definite exception and has become one of my favourite festive season viewing experiences. Based on the classic Samuel Goldwyn film "The Bishop's Wife", which starred legends Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, this 1996 effort has a charm and slant on the essentially same story all its own. Denzel Washington in the role of an angel sent down to earth to sort out the life of a preacher who has lost sight of what really is important, is a most worthy successor to Cary Grant in the original film and Whitney Houston in the female lead displays a warm screen presence and great musical talent that couldn't be bettered in this type of story. Amazingly I only saw this film for the first time 3 years ago but it has become a firm favourite of mine ever since. Combining a traditional and much loved Christmas tale with some truly wonderful gospel singing gives this effort a really upbeat feel which however never sacrifices for one minute the more touching aspects of the story.A truly inspirational and touching story filled with some beautiful music and comic pieces is the best way to describe this beautiful little movie. I love all three lead performances here and it's a joy to see Denzel Washington, normally the star of some intensely dramatic films, in such a charming and light hearted role as Dudley. He displays a fine comic talent and teams especially well with the other two leads. If ever there was a proper successor to Cary Grant in this role then Denzel Washington is it. Whitney Houston does very well in the role of Julia and she displays a nicely touching persona especially in her scenes with her screen son. She of course comes alive in the musical numbers many of which she produced herself. I've become a big fan of gospel music after her terrific rendition of such numbers as,"Step by Step", and especially the show stopping "I believe in you and me". Courtney Vance playing the earlier David Niven role of Henry is also excellent and his performance contains a lot of the dramatic meat of the story as the essentially kind hearted preacher who is torn too many ways and sees himself loosing his family. His work with Denzel Washington in particular is note worthy especially in the scenes when he can't seem to understand just "where", this mysterious helper has suddenly come from. Other standouts in the cast are Loretta Devine as Julia's mother in a very funny performance full of great lines and wry observations about what is happening in the Biggs household, and Gregory Hines as sharp business man Joe Hamilton who in turn is also affected by Dudley's presence in his previously rather shallow life. The look and feel of "The Preacher's Wife", makes it a wonderful newer Christmas viewing experience and much of the credit goes to the church scenes with the St. Matthew's choir taking centre stage. Their singing and expert handling of all the gospel music is perfect and really gets you into the feel of the season.As a "modern", Christmas story I personally feel "The Preacher's Wife", is a most worthy successor to the well known and greatly loved earlier classics like "White Christmas", and "Miracle on 34th Street". Taking a very different slant on the story than the earlier 'The Bishop's Wife", it manages to be wholly original in its own way and makes delightful seasonal viewing. Try and see this touching film next Christmas and I'm sure it will become a treasured part of your holiday viewing like it is in my home.danceability-1, Amsterdam Holland

'The Preacher's Wife' contains all of the ingredients that a good holiday film needs. The film is about a preacher who is struggling to find the romance with his wife, and he meets an angel who has come down to sort things out. The film also has an element of comedy to its touching story and the characters in it. The story is what makes this film a good one, and it is worth watching around the holiday season. It's generally a feel-good film, but it is not one that stands out completely with an original plot and stunning cinematography. It is simply a fun film, and it succeeds in that aspect. Just expect it to be another take on a romantic holiday film.

This remake of the Bishop's Wife had some good points, all in about the last third of the movie. Recalling that while I greatly enjoyed the original film, 1947 film "The Bishop's Wife", starring Carey Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young, when I happen to catch snatches of it on TV, it now seems slow paced. I think we have become accustomed to faster moving stories. But The Preachers Wife, if anything, is even more plodding than its original.Denzel is a terrific actor, but I'm guessing Penny Marshall (Laverne DeFazio in TV's "Laverne & Shirley" smash hit comedy series)directed him to play his part as someone who wanted to be romantically involved with the Wife, but couldn't. In the original, as II recall. Cary Grant is, of course charming, as only Cary Grant could be, but he remains focused on what he was sent down to Earth to do.The actor playing the Preacher, was the one part I thought better than the original! Which is quite a compliment when you consider that I was very fond of David Niven, both as an actor and as a wit. (As I recall, Mr. Niven was on stage during a televised Acadamy Awards show when a buck naked streaker ran across the stage. I don't recall exactly what he said, but the always dapper and unflappable David watched the streaker with an amused grin on his face and then made an ad lib remark that had everyone laughing.) Courtney B. Vance played the part of Reverend Henry Biggs so well that I became convinced that Denzel Washington was playing a double role, just wearing make-up to change his appearance. (Denzel has the acting talent to alter his persona, even without makeup. Except perhaps for the same face, I would never confuse his Malcome X, his Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, his "Creasy" in "Man on Fire", or his Dr. Jerome Davenport in "Antwone Fisher" with each other. Even without makeup or props you can tell then apart.) Maybe Mr. Vance's talent is recognized within the entertainment industry (his filmography suggests he's been kept pretty busy), but the awards for which he has been nominated are not ones I follow.