Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

Fairly desperate sequel to 1992's "Sister Act" has one-time lounge singer Whoopi Goldberg now a big attraction in Las Vegas, but called back to the convent by those kooky nuns to help bring order to a school full of rebellious teenagers. Poorly constructed script just begs for a lighter touch, but everything is hammered home. James Coburn looks appropriately puzzled as the proverbial villain of the piece (he wants to shut the school down, and after meeting the students, any audience may come to sympathize with him). Goldberg's mere presence brings a smile, but this is hand-me-down material (much more so than the cookie-cutter first installment) and is completely without merit. *1/2 from ****

Fmovies: This is an acceptable though inferior sequel to ¨Sister act¨ , a surprising box office hit ; it has a similar casting and set at an old High School which is destined for closure . The club singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is again asked to don the nun's habit to help a Catholic school , presided over by Superior Mother (Maggie Smith) and formed by charming nuns (Wendy Makkenna, Kathy Najimy , Mary Wickes, among others). Friendly Deloris back and has to teach music to a bunch of students in their parochial college which is fated for closure . She creates a choir to participate in the state championship . A group of stereotypical botcher monks (Barnard Hughes , Michael Jeter) and a greedy administrator (James Coburn) attempt to detain them . However ,one of the girls (Lauryn Hill) , who is the most talented of the team , is banned to sing by her mummy (Sheryl Lee Ralph) . Los Angeles lounge singer donning nun's habit and organizing the convent choir formed by sympathetic nuns who steal best laughs and including a spectacular as well as amusing concert .

This entertaining film with some genuinely funny moments follows the formula about a fish out water . Motormouth and kind Whoopi Goldberg is pretty well as the vaudeville star become unexpected nun , she is a complete show . Whoopi Goldberg was very unhappy making the first film and made this sequel only after Disney decided to finance her dream project, Sarafina! . Good performances from agreeable nuns , Wendy Makkenna , Kathy Najimy , the veteran Mary Wickes and excellent Maggie Smith who disapproves modern methods . Fine support cast , being this the first movie for Lauryn Hill, Ryan Toby and Jennifer Love Hewitt . And Whoopi Goldberg's daughter, Alex Martin, appears in this movie as one of the classroom children . The musical numbers in 'Diana Ross and the Supremes style', magical choreography and songs are catchy and done with gusto . The movie is amusing and entertaining with enjoyable set pieces but don't let it make you expect too much . Well-done musical score with swinging tunes by Marc Shaiman and Miles Goodman ; including colorful cinematography by Oliver Wood . The film is geared directly toward Whoopi Goldberg fans and young viewers . The motion picture was professionally directed by Bill Duke . Bill is a known and prestigious secondary actor , usual in villain roles as Commando (1985) and especially as one of Schwarzenegger's jungle commandos in Depredator (1987). After cutting his directorial teeth on the small screen , Duke directed his first feature film with the crime drama , ¨Rage in Harlem¨ (1991). This was followed by another impressive crime film ¨Deep cover¨ (1992), then made this comedy sequel , Sister Act 2 (1993). Duke has since continued to divide his time between appearing both in front of the camera and behind it , and remains a dynamic, stimulating and creative talent in Hollywood.

I hate sequels, but I still watch them in hopes that there will be one that actually is as good or better than the original.

Some are ("Star Wars" sequels, James Bond films, "Godfather" films") but ones like "Sister Act II" are not. It's bad all right, but not in any normal sense. This is bad in its own unique way.

Whereas the original had a sense, style, clarity and humorous thrust all its own, "Sister Act II" goes on a completely different tangent than the original. It abandons the old neighborhood from the first movie, adds a bunch of characters that are introduced then forgotten, there are no references to the cop (Nunn) that helped out Whoopi in the original and aside from Sister Mary Patrick (Najimy, always good for a laugh), everyone looks bored beyond belief.

The sisters are back, there's a lot of music but they had to add a bunch of sitcom kids that would have been more at home on an episode of "Growing Pains" or something produced by Bill Cosby. Even with the palpable talent of Lauryn Hill, singing and acting her heart out, there is little support and little to no laughs.

And Whoopi: I guess any "Sister Act" sequel would have to have her in it by design, but she just seems so weary by the whole idea that she wants to scrunch down into her habit and hide from everybody.

I can't blame her. And there isn't even a Witness Protection program here to help her.

One good line ("We haven't the balls for that!") does not a movie make. And in spite of the high spirits exuded in the END CREDITS (???!?!), it doesn't do too much for a movie that spends its running time taking a nap.

"Sister Act II: Back in the Habit". Not a prayer.

Two stars. One for seeing the nuns again and that end credit number. I think some contrition is in order here.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit fmovies. It's one year later, Deloris has returned back to singing in Las Vegas, mobsters locked up. Things are OK until she is asked a favor by the head nun to return as a music teacher at the school the church runs. Things don't start off correctly, a bunch of neighborhood students, kids who have seen rough times, she tries to show them the talent they have in their voices. But it is going take some time and patience to prepare them for a big singing show. One day while practicing Deloris discovers that the students have been invited to sing for the pope, which we all hope it will go well. This was one of the best movies Whoopi has done.

Compared to most sequels, this is in the top 20. But as for comparison to the first, there is almost no relation. The first was a good movie. Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit does not compare to most movies. Some cheap independent films, if well acted, are better. But some commercial movies are worse than this movie. It had no great acting. Some things were funny. But why didn't the nuns sing again? That would seem most logical to do in this film. And kids? Ok, I guess. But the story line could be changed, and then everything re-vamped, without the practically psychotic men from the monastery, and you have a great movie.

such a pleasure, albeit a guilty one! The original wasn't good enough to warrant a sequel. Nonetheless, the choirs are so talented; their acts never get tired no matter how many times this piece re-runs on cable. Whatever her other pros and cons, Whoopi plays to the ensemble in this one, never the scene hog. What a pleasure to see an icon like Maggie Smith so thoroughly and obviously enjoying herself---ditto Mary Wickes, after being such a steadfast fixture of a supporting character on screen for nearly 70 years, her penultimate screen appearance.

and really that's the whole point here isn't it? simple enjoyment, by actors and audience, in a meld of plots so familiar and comfortable, especially at holiday time. Among them--- Hey Kids Let's Put on a Show and Save Grandpa's Farm... Fish Out of Water Makes Good... Stick Together and Win the Big Game...