Placed in witness protection after accidentally seeing her mobster boyfriend commit a heinous murder, a small-time Reno singer has trouble adjusting to her new identity as a nun in this Whoopi Goldberg comedy. There are some groan-inducing fish-out-of-water moments early on, such as Goldberg struggling to make it through grace, however, the film improves as she begins to embrace the convent life, finding a new passion in life when placed in charge of the convent's second-rate choir. Indeed, the film's best scenes involve the nuns singing religiously themed variations on popular rock tunes, including a clever rendition of the Mary Wells song 'My Guy'. It even reaches the point where the success of the choir is so interesting that the thugs tracking down Goldberg feel like a distraction when they suddenly reappear towards the end. The film is also let down by some simple stereotype supporting characters, with only Maggie Smith really standing out. Smith is actually funny than Goldberg, given all the best lines ("People want to kill you. Everyone who has met you I imagine."), however, she is ultimately merely a supporting player. Those interested in a comedy where Goldberg steals every scene she is in may be better served by 'Ghost', but this is a decent little film with even a solid message or two about believing everyone has the capacity for change.

This movie is full of laughs, has an entertaining story, action and plenty of good music. You don't have to be a fan of these kind of films to love this movie. Most movies I'm into are horror films but I love Sister Act so that shows how good this movie is if it can win me over like that. Brilliant music, very fine acting and a delight to watch. This is one of the best family comedies I have seen and is a good example of how good and magical films are in the 90's. The cast is brilliant; the hilarious Kathy Najimy stars as the bouncy, always-cheerful Sister Mary Patrick; Wendy Makkena as the awfully shy Sister Mary Robert; Mary Wickes as the spunky, wise-cracking Sister Mary Lazarus, and of course, the legendary Maggie Smith as the ever-stern, yet caring, Reverend Mother. And these aren't the only colorful characters; every nun has their own special personality. As for the plot, in my opinion it's very original and interesting. I have to admit it did slow down a couple of times, but for the most part it was convincing and, to me, very well-written.Overall, this movie is one the entire family can enjoy and watch over and over again. And when it comes to the bare necessities of a picture, there's "nun too many" or "nun too few" here! Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

This movie is highly underrated! It's a sin that a lot of people haven't heard of it. It should be appreciated, more! This divine comedy was really funny and very uplifting. Directed by Emile Ardolino, Sister Act tells the story of a Reno lounge singer, Delores Wilson AKA Delores Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) who has been put under protective custody in a San Francisco church convent, due to being a witness to a murder, committed by mobster/ex-boyfriend, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel). While, in hiding, living under the name, "Sister Mary Clarence". She has a hard time, fitting in, with the strict rule set of the Church. It wasn't until, she was force to help the struggling church choir to make some needed improvements that she sees the errors of her sinful ways; while also showing the church, that a little fun and freedom, isn't so bad. Without spoiling the movie, too movie, I have to say, the movie features some really good musical arrangements by song writer, Marc Shaiman. I like how, he was able to change old church hymns and classic R&B hits, into something new, by mixing them. A normal rendition like 'My Guy' by Mary Wells, transform into a cool faux-gospel number, when the movie substitutes "My Guy" with "My God". Another great example is making the boring, Salve Regina gospel into a rock & roll-infused version of the song. It was perfect and so hip. My favorite song has to be 'I will follow him', the Little Peggy March cover. It really match, with the tone of the film, so well. This movie showed that worship can honestly, be awesome! All churches should do this. My only complaint is that the movie church choir didn't sing enough songs- it takes 30 minutes into the film, until Dolores finally get to teach the church choir, and a few minutes, more, until they start to sing. That sub-plot is the bread and butter, for this movie and seeing it, lag, behind, is a bit disappointing. I really didn't like the pacing for this film. The movie should had focus on the singing, a lot, more. I also hate misused of certain Mo-Town hits. Songs like "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" are introduce in the beginning in the film like the other songs, but this is the only classic R&B song that doesn't get the gospel treatment, later on. So it makes me, wonder, why the song was even there in the first place. I have a feeling, that the song did have a church choir version, but it was delete from the film. Another thing, I really didn't like, is the Animal House style, end credits. The movie's end credit kinda ruin the film's message. It shows that Delores didn't change much. As much as the ending, hurts the writing. I'm surprise, how well-done the script was. As production commenced, the script was rewritten by a half dozen screenwriters, including famous names, like Carrie Fisher, Robert Harling, and others, helping the product. Some people believe it was written, too well. Most of these critics claim that most of the story was stolen from books such as "The Harlem Street Nun," an autobiography and 'A Nun in the Closet'. Despite that, I love the fish out of water conflict between old school traditional ways being challenge by new school approach. I love the clever funny jokes like the Blue Brothers cameo. None of the jokes, seem too blasphemous or offensive to the faithful. For the most part, it makes you want to rejoice along with the rest of the choir, and their enthusiasm feels very infectious. It's a lot of fun and makes you feel good in the process. I got the habit of laughing. However, the whole nun to rescue, third act was a bit over the top. I will have nun of that. When the script was brought up to Disney, they wanted actress Bette Midler for the main role. However, Midler turned down the role, fearing that her fans would not want to see her play a nun. While, I agree that real life singer and comedian, Bette Midler would make a great Delores. I have to say, the film's replacement, Whoopi Goldberg wasn't that bad. It's arguably Whoopi Goldberg's best role ever, besides 1990's Ghost. Still, there were some jarring issues about her performance. I really couldn't buy into her being a beautiful lounge singer. While, she did indeed could sing in real life. She doesn't have the musical presence that Midler has. The movie doesn't really showcase, Goldberg's singing ability that well. The whole music sequence, she did in the beginning, was kinda rushed, and felt more, like a comedy act, than a music act. Her verbal sparring with Mother Superior (Maggie Smith) was her strong suit. I love the exchange, between them. Remind me, so much of 1940 film "Brother Orchid". Maggie Smith manages to inject a great deal of much needed depth into her thinly written character. The other characters in the film, are somewhat one-dimensional stereotypes, but they work. I love the joy that Kathy Najimy's is able to bring as the perpetually optimistic Sister Mary Patrick. She just shines with her sunny disposition. Wendy Makkena as the shy Mary Roberts who finds her voice is amazing to watch as well. She is so cute. Mary Wickes also puts in a good appearance as the stern Sister Mary Lazarus. She gets a lot of great one liners, and her timing is spot on. Even the villains weren't that bad. Harvey Keitel is passable, but his part feels inconsequential when compared to the others. Overall: While, the movie is a bit predictable, and often full of musical clichés. It does have some charm. Bless you movie. Bless you. The film was followed by a 1993 sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Check it out, as well, if you want to.

While the idea of an obviously Jewish nun was very funny in the initial plans for Bette Midler to star in this smash hit Touchstone comedy, the ultimate re-casting with Whoopie Goldberg probably did this more good in the long run. The story wasn't anything new, but the execution was so wonderful that it became one of the runaway comedy hits of the summer of 1993 and inspired both a sequel and a hit Broadway musical ultimately produced by the Whoop-ster herself. This basically could almost be called a semi-sequel to the 1960's pair of "nun" comedy's, "The Trouble With Angels" and "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows", as one of those film's nuns (Mary Wickes) is back again in the habit, and in the follow-up film to this ("Sister Act II, Back in the Habit"), she was once again behind the wheel of a bus, delivering funny lines and gently stealing the film from Whoopie and the most memorial mother superior in film history, the wonderful Maggie Smith.There's no originality in the plot of second string Vegas singer Goldberg hiding out in a convent after seeing her white mobster lover kill a snitch. But what happens in a convent hopefully stays in the convent, that is until Goldberg takes over the ultra flat chorus and turns them into earthly "Supreme" beings. Their singing gets the attention of locales not interested in church, and before you can make a sign of the cross, "his holiness", the pope, is on his way for a visit, and Goldberg's hiding place is about to be revealed. After all, even in a habit, she looks conspicuously out of place, but even with putting the convent in danger and disturbing Mother Maggie's sanctity with a Catholic version of a nightclub show, she changes many lives, especially hers.It is the music here that thrills, as do many of the wise-cracking comments Goldberg makes. Even the tightly wound Maggie gets in her usual acidic comment when Bishop Joseph Maher reminds her of her duty to those in need and her vow of charity. "I lied", she dryly says. Newcomer Kathy Najimy also gets a few good lines in as a plump cheery nun who has a singing voice that could be used to warn of air raids. "My mother told me I should become either a stewardess or a nun", she cheerily smiles, adding "Coffee?" Newcomer Wendy Makkena is the shy noviate nun who with Goldberg's help proves that she does have a voice. The foursome of Goldberg, Wickes, Najimy and Makkena becomes a lovable clique, while various Broadway veterans surround out the chorus of other nuns as well. The Broadway musical had a long journey from its initial try-outs in Pasadena and Atlanta to New York, and fortunately, what seemed forced and rushed in the early Pasadena staging (where the Reverand Mother was written much more colder than Smith's and lightened up greatly) came together once it got to Broadway. It was a crowd-pleasing hit for two years, showing that with some divine intervention, this lovable film could put a smile on the face of even the staunchest critics. Even Goldberg as producer got into the mix for a bit when she briefly played Mother Superior in London. Seeing both variations of the stage show gave me the deepest respect for the out-of-town tryout, and loving this film as much as I do, I can appreciate the need to have it on stage even if the film in its own way is pretty much a guaranteed sale. So whether your spirituality is total bible thumping or barely existent or maybe even absent, unless you've been grabbed by evil demons which require an exorcism, you can't help but adore this cheerful look into the world of nuns which make them much more human than their undeserved reputations have allowed them to be.