The Temptations (1998)

Just perfect...

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Watched this New Years Eve with my husband, this music was "our era" and this movie was just soooooo good. Think I appreciate the Temps more so after watching this move. The actor who plays David Ruffin, was one sexy hoot ! Spellbinding...loved the Eddie Kendricks character/actor too, he was such a cutie ! Best thing for me was the earlier performances...the actor who plays Ruffin can move! Whoa. Great great movie!

I must admit - the Tempts were my favorite Motown group. I knew a lot about them. But not nearly as much as this film portrays. I quickly fell into the category of believing that these 5 (or 7 with Richard Street and Dennis Edwards) actors were the real thing.The emotion in this story can be best seen in the woman's eyes at the Eddie Kendricks solo show when he and guest David Ruffin serenade her with "You're My Everything." And Ruffin's audition on New Year's Eve when he first opens his mouth in "Shout" drew revere from the four Tepts who performed the encore.I could write for hours about this film. But if you have any interest in Motown or any music form the 60's or any era, this is absolutely a MUST SEE.And - II met Otis WIlliams recently and I asked him 2 questions: 1) Which voice was hardest to replace (answer - none) and 2) Which original Tempt does he miss the most (answer - Melvin "Blue" Franklin, of course)."And the band played on...." Melvin Franklin

The camera work has the usual claustrophobic box look of most television films. The editing is incredibly choppy, and the continuity is really awful sometimes. There are also clichés in abundance - David Ruffin getting tossed out of a car is pure detective-show melodrama, but doesn't really resolve the whole Ruffin problem in the film. And there's plenty of lag-time, especially in the second half.All that said, the story is surprisingly very strong, the characters fascinating, the performances energetic, and the music is very well presented. The sense of the historical change of context surrounding the characters is also accurate and convincing, although played quietly (actually works better that way).The first half especially is a treat. A strong effort to do the group, its music, and its history justice.

In my opinion, this movie was so captivating, my soul soared every time they sang,my heart sunk every time when chapters in their lives were going pretty bad, i felt their joy and even their pain its just like i said its Captivating. I have a younger sister shes only 13 yrs, shes very much in to R&B and Hip hop but the reason why i mentioned this is because after watching this movie, she not only boasted about the movie to her friends but she also sings the songs while walking to school, i just thought that was nice to see and at least the lyrics she was singing was clean lyrics and not hardcore cursing with the hip hop she listens too lol. Just want to say is there anyway The Temptations would come to little ole New Zealand, you have such a Fan club :)