“Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit”, Influential and Underrated
Editor’s Note: Before we dive into what is a personal favorite of mine, I wanted to take moment to explain why the “Movie Musical Shakedown” is transitioning from a podcast to a column. The reasons simply came down to time and work. I love doing this series. While the podcast was great and a lot of fun, it’s a lot of work and requires time that I simply don’t have at the moment.
So, in order to pump as many of these as I want, I’m moving the series to what I do best, writing it as a column. Don’t worry, all your favorite categories will still be there, we’re still giving out our awards, it will just be in written form.
Will we go back to podcasting this? Possibly. But for now, enjoy.
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When I was 11-years old, my parents bought me Sister Act on VHS. At the time, I was big into music class at school and started participating in theatre. My parents saw this and decided that Christmas that year would the time they would flood my musical intake. God bless them for it. I watched Sister Act, along with the tapes of The Music Man and The King and I repeatedly.
Just a year later, I saw that a sequel was coming out in theatres, and needless to say, I was pumped. By this time, I was in my school’s “show choir”, so when the trailer showcased a singing school group, I felt my movie had arrived.
I not only saw the movie opening weekend, I bought the soundtrack and devoured it. I memorized every song, every riff, and tried my damndest to match Ryan Toby’s E natural high in ‘Oh Happy Day’. I never came close.
Looking back on this movie, which turns 27 this December, there is a lot to love. The music is incredible. It introduced us to the talents of Lauryn Hill, Tanya Blount, Ryan Toby, and even Jennifer Love Hewitt. Is it better than the first movie? In some ways,. yes. Can you watch it right now? Yes, it’s streaming on Disney+.
So let’s dig in and get to the categories for Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.
But first, as always, here is the trailer.
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Backstage (Some behind the scenes facts and stories)
You could say that Disney rushed the sequel after the success of the first movie. Sister Act was released in March of 1992 and the sequel came out in December of 1993, just 21 months apart.
While the first installment was a gigantic hit (grossing $231.6 million on a $31 million budget) the sequel was a commercial bomb, raking in just $54.3 million on a $38 million budget.
Initially, Whoopi Goldberg did not want to do the sequel, based on her negative experience making the first one. However, Disney promised that if she did this movie, they would greenlight Sarafina! (1993). They also paid her $7 million to be in the sequel, marking her as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood.
In addition to Whoopi Golberg(producer, Thoroughly Modern Millie), the film features four other Tony Award Winners. Michael Jeter(Grand Hotel), Barnard Hughes(Da), Bill Irwin(Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf) and Maggie Smith(Lettice and Lovage). Sheryl Lee Ralph also appears in the film. She was nominated for a Tony for her work in the original production of Dreamgirls.
Dusty Room Moments (Chill-inducing, emotional moments)
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow”
If you don’t get chills watching this, you’re a robot devoid of emotion. The way that Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount crush this classic is simply magical. While the sequence isn’t terribly long in the film, the geniuses behind the music blessed up with a 4-minute rendition on the soundtrack. This performance cements two facts - 1. Lauryn Hill is a brilliant vocalist. 2. Tonya Blount should have had a bigger recording career.
“Oh Happy Day”
One of my favorite movie musical tropes is watching the shy performer break out of their shell and deliver a killer performance. The first movie did it with Sister Mary Robert suddenly having a belting, booming voice but in the sequel their upped their game.
Throughout the first portion of the film, Ryan Toby’s Ahmal is the shy kid who Goldberg’s Deloris sees a lot of potential in. She works with him privately, pushes him and it all comes to a head at a school assembly where the group performs “Oh Happy Day”.
The result is possibly the most memorable and iconic moment of the entire film.
Yeesh Moments (Things that haven’t aged well)
Thankfully, there isn’t a lot in this movie that hasn’t aged well. Except for…Frankie. Oh Frankie.
Rating 1-10
Acting - 5
I’m going to give credit where credit is due, Goldberg is carrying this movie on her back. If Disney paid her $7 million, she earned every penny and then some. She could have easily mailed it in but instead gives it everything. At this time, she was three years from winning an Oscar and at the height of her powers. She’s clicking on everything. The rest of the cast? Well, some hit high and others miss entirely.
Singing - 10
There’s not much else to say, the singing in this movie is the best element. It’s 100 times better than the first movie and arguably some of the best musical performances of that era.
Dancing - 7
Having been in school show choir, I have to be honest when I saw the choreography in this movie is 100% accurate. Nothing terrible complex, moves that everyone should be able to do. Interestingly, the choreographer for the film was the late, great Michael Peters who was choreographed Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Beat It.
So with that said, here’s the final number in all of its glory.
Design - 8
The idea was to make this school look as run-down as possible and the designers and decorators accomplished that goal. Also, the 90’s fashion choices are out of control in this movie and I love it.
Awards
The Julie Andrews (Best singer in the movie)
Lauryn Hill. Enough said.
The Russell Crowe (Worst or least great singer)
Tough to say, because she’s clearly doing a character voice but I have to give this one to Kathy Najimy.
The Bumlets (Extra, background performer that is amazing enough that it pulls your focus)
In case you wanted to know the origin of the name of this award, it’s based on the character of Bumlets from Newsies played by the late Dominic Lucero who ate up every bit of scenery he was in. This is him spinning on the fan.
So for Sister Act 2, I’m giving it to the older gentleman who pops in at the 43:42 mark in the movie. It’s during the “Ball of Confusion” performance and this guy is just loving it. Here he is.
I’d like to think that they filmed him on take 15-20 and the dude is still just thrilled to be there. A close runner up is whoever dubbed in the line “Shooting rockets to the moon” in “Ball of Confusion”. It’s so over the top goofy that I can’t handle it.
Should there be a remake/reboot/Netflix series?
On December 7, 2018, it was confirmed that Regina Y. Hicks and Karin Gist were hired to write the script for Sister Act 3 for a release on Disney+. But there haven’t been any details announced since.
I wouldn’t be against a third installment but I’m not sure what they could do with the character that would work. Deloris has saved a church. She’s saved a school. What’s next?
Final Thoughts
Sister Act 2 isn’t a perfect movie, some might say it’s not a good movie. But I love it. It was incredibly influential for me as a young performer as it was for many others. It’s hardly mentioned as one of the great movie musicals of the early 90s which is why I think it’s an underrated gem and worthy of a rewatch.