Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
| Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | |
|---|---|
| File:104343.1020.A.jpg original film poster | |
| Directed by | Bill Duke |
| Written by | James Orr Jim Cruickshank Judi Ann Mason |
| Produced by | Scott Rudin Dawn Steel |
| Starring | Whoopi Goldberg Maggie Smith Lauryn Hill James Coburn Ryan Toby Kathy Najimy Wendy Makkena Barnard Hughes |
| Cinematography | Oliver Wood |
| Edited by | John Carter |
| Music by | Miles Goodman |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures |
Release date | 10 December 1993 |
Running time | 107 mins |
| Language | English |
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is a 1993 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, directed by Bill Duke, and released by Touchstone Pictures. It is a sequel to the successful 1992 film Sister Act. Although not as successful as Sister Act, it still grossed $60 million in the United States and nearly $100 million worldwide. Most of the original cast reprise their roles in the sequel, including Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena, and Mary Wickes. Like the original, Sister Act 2 contains several musical performances, which are integrated into the main plot.
History
Sister Act 2 has historical significance as the first Hollywood blockbuster sequel headed by an African-American film director. It was also a breakout role for singer/actress Lauryn Hill. It also features Jennifer Love Hewitt before she became well known for her later roles in movies and television, and Ryan Toby who went on to be part of the musical group City High.
The movie is popular for its (often altered) gospel songs and R&B classics and soul versions of church hymns. These songs include
- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough";
- Martha & The Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street";
- The Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love";
- "Joyful, Joyful" (an interpretation of Henry van Dyke's "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee". The choir's version features a rap break and an interpolation of Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and Naughty by Nature's O.P.P. (song).);
- The Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day" [1];
- "Barbara Allen" and "In the Still of the Night", performed by the musical group Rock Theatre.
Aretha Franklin scored a worldwide hit single from the film's soundtrack with "A Deeper Love," featuring a backing vocal by Lisa Fischer.
Plot
Sister Mary Patrick, Sr. Mary Robert and Sr. Mary Lazarus visit Deloris, now starring in a musical about her misadventures in the convent, during her show, asking her to return to the convent. Deloris initially declines, but changes her mind when she hears that Mother Superior is in a desperate situation. Upon their arrival at St. Francis Academy in San Francisco, Mother Superior asks her to teach music to a class of rowdy teenagers. At first, the students play tricks on her, but they eventually grow to like her.
During the course of the school year, Deloris – as Sister Mary Clarence – discovers their musical talent and decides to organize them into a choir.
Sister Mary Clarence obtains use of the school's old music room. As the other sisters help clean it up, they discover old trophies and ribbons the school won from the All-State Music Competition. They find out the competition still takes place in Hollywood, and convince Sister Mary Clarence and the students to enter, in the hopes they can save St. Francis from closing. As the group heads to the competition, the school board discovers that Deloris is actually a Las Vegas singer and head after them to withdraw the choir from the competition. Father Maurice – the principal – is greeted by the students who think that he came to support them. He decides not to withdraw the choir, despite the wishes of Mr. Crisp, the head of the school board.
The choir sings in the competition and wins, and afterward learns of Sister Mary Clarence's true identity.
Cast
- Whoopi Goldberg - Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence
- Kathy Najimy - Sister Mary Patrick
- Barnard Hughes - Father Maurice
- Mary Wickes - Sister Mary Lazarus
- James Coburn - Mr. Crisp
- Michael Jeter - Father Ignatius
- Wendy Makkena - Sister Mary Robert
- Sheryl Lee Ralph - Florence Watson
- Robert Pastorelli - Joey Bustamante
- Thomas Gottschalk - Father Wolfgang
- Maggie Smith - Mother Superior
- Lauryn Hill - Rita Louise Watson
- Brad Sullivan - Father Thomas
- Alanna Ubach - Maria
- Ryan Toby - Wesley Glen 'Ahmal' James
- Ron Johnson - Richard 'Sketch' Pinchum
- Jennifer Love Hewitt - Margaret
- Christian Fitzharris - Tyler Chase
- Devin Kamin-Frankie
Possible Sequel (Sister Act 3)
Since its release a sequel has been talked about extensively at numerous occasions, and from 1995 to 1999 a third film was planned, but production was cancelled due to many cast members dropping out. In 2000 it was rumoured that Sister Act 3: Christmas Vacation was in production and would be released in December 2002, but was never officially announced. As of mid 2006, a second sequel to Sister Act is in the writing stages.