Review by Jennifer McKenzie
Stars Shaun Evans, Amanda Ryan, Stockard Channing, Bob Hoskins,
Anthony Head, Lesley Manville, John Shrapnel | Written by Tom Hunsinger & Neil Hunter
UK cert 15 | UK RRP £9.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 104 mins | Directed by Tom Hunsinger & Neil Hunter
When I first tried to watch this movie, I ejected the DVD after three minutes because I couldn't take it anymore. And you should know I was on an 11 hour plane journey with no book and a dire in-flight movie selection (I was actually excited about watching Marmaduke, that's how bad the situation was). Yet I still couldn't bear to watch anymore of Sparkle.
I was promised an addictive viewing with the cover screaming at me that I would be 'hooked instantly' and 'reeled in'. Maybe it's only fish that like this movie. Probably because they have a three second memory.
With a sigh, a week later I forced myself to watch it all the way through and discovered that although the title lied (not a single Sparkle as far as I was concerned), it wasn't quite as bad as I first thought. Although the characters are uninspiring, dreary, rather dull and certainly don't possess more than an ounce of Hollywood good looks or talent between them, the plot was somewhat charming.
It follows Sam (Evans) as a go-getter moving to London and seducing man-eating PR guru (and his boss) Shelia (Channing). However, Sam then falls for Shelia’s mum Kate (Ryan), triggering all sorts of family betrayals and life, love and career decisions. Not my cup of tea, but surely there must be a target audience hidden out there somewhere?
EXTRAS ★★ The making of Sparkle, interviews with the directors and the trailer.