Python Hyena The Preacher's Wife (1996): Dir: Penny Marshall / Cast: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines, Loretta Devine: Wonderful comedy that expresses God's work through angels. Whitney Houston is the preacher's wife whose singing voice graces the film. Denzel Washington plays the angel sent by God to help her and her pastor husband. Courtney B. Vance plays the pastor who is doing too many things at once. He visits hospitals but learns that his son is accused of a crime that he didn't commit. His other issues regard a boiler that is breaking down. On top of that he is being pressured to sell the land for which the Church stands. He also has less time for his wife who sings with the choir. Obviously he does not believe Washington when he shows up claiming to be an angel. Beautifully directed by Penny Marshall with nifty visual elements and an eye for detail. Charming performance by Washington who seems rightfully placed in this sincere role. Also a plus is strong supporting work by Vance who remains sturdy despite events surrounding his life. Houston has a great voice and suitable for the material. Gregory Hines has the thankless role of villain out to claim the land. Great film that will remind viewers of a holiday masterpiece called It's A Wonderful Life. The result is a heart warming comedy about answered prayer. Score: 9 ½ / 10

Elswet Denzell Washington and Witney Houston, and THIS was the best they could do? An unintelligent and unintentional remake of the Bishop's Wife?! This was a boring, dull, plodding, and unenlightened mess. I have to write 10 lines of text, but that's about all there is to say about this train wreck. The movie was completely uninspired, featuring nothing in the way of entertainment, nothing in the way of spirituality, and nothing in the way of hope that the movie will just END.This was a complete waste of time.Because Denzell was still completely awesome, it rates a rating at all at a 2.2/10 from...the Fiend :.

robert_fulton1 I first saw this movie right when it came out, when I was a kid. I loved it then, and still watch it every Christmas (and sometimes when the holidays are still months away!). I've seen the original movie "The Bishop's Wife" and liked it, and I think this remake is very well put together. Whitney's voice in incomparable. The perfect soundtrack for her to be singing on. Heart-warming and fun for the whole family. It's one of the few movies that I can watch over and over and over again, and not tire of it. Denzel plays Dudley with just the right charm, and tries to do the right things, but doesn't always seem to make it. Courtney Vance is the picture of a frustrated pastor (I come from the family of a minister. Trust me, he plays the tough times to a tee!) still trying to do what he should, and managing to make it work. Great family film.

moonspinner55 Not being a fan of Henry Koster's misguided, overrated Christmas romance "The Bishop's Wife" from 1947--and not exactly being an admirer of Whitney Houston's acting abilities (I walked out on "The Bodyguard" and passed on "Waiting to Exhale")--I was surprised to find this all-black remake directed by Penny Marshall an improvement over the original, one featuring a fine performance by the famous singer. A handsome angel comes to Earth to help a beleaguered minister and befriends his lonely spouse who's in charge of the church choir. With a solid cast at her disposal, Marshall, preserving the Christmas theme, mostly receives the jubilant results she was aiming for, though her too-obvious love of sentimentality coats the picture with a heavy whimsy (a lighter touch might have avoided this). Houston is appealing and effortless on the screen--she's a natural, making her scenes flow with ease. Washington and Vance are also good, though, in a switch from the '47 version, the male roles are far less interesting.