SISTER ACT 2:BACK IN THE HABIT

US, 1993, 106 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Barnard Hughes, James Coburn, Mary Wickes.
Directed by Bill Duke.

Sister Act 2 is a pleasantly innocuous sequel to the very popular original, Sister Act. It provides an opportunity for Whoopi Goldberg to be a Reno and Las Vegas showgirl as well as go into an old-fashioned habit and transform convents and schools as a nun. Kathy Najimy is very engaging as Sister Patrick. Mary Wickes is Sister Lazarus. Wendy Makkenna is the novice, Sister Robert. Maggie Smith is less tight-lipped as the Mother Superior.

The plot of this sequel is taken almost completely from To Sir With Love - with the plotline from Fame. It all works on a very enjoyable level - and is directed by Bill Duke, director of tough black thrillers like Rage in Harlem and Deep Cover, which gives the film a focus on the black students in the school. It seems to be a message film for the black American audience.

1. The popularity of the original, the characters, Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy? Religion? The quality of the sequel?

2. The opening Las Vegas performance, San Francisco, the school, the streets? Los Angeles and the competition?

3. The musical score, the range of songs, choir music, popular songs as in the credits sequence, the range of music, rap music, black music? The performances by the nuns?

4. Delores and her Las Vegas performance, the nuns coming to visit, the reaction of the manager, the nuns and their blackmail, the hold over Delores, Mother Superior and her plea, Delores agreeing to go into the school, the reasons given for her going into the habit?

5. The picture of the friars, Morris and his age, hearing aid, dithering? The other friars, the sour Latin classes, the dancing friar, discipline? The closing of the school?

6. The meeting of the board, the reasons for their decisions to close the school, Mr Crisp and his financial management, his being seen as the enemy?

7. Sister Patrick and her oomph, classes on sex? Sister Robert - and her genial advice, especially to Rita? Sister Lazarus, music, wisecracks, driving the bus?

8. The elderly nuns - and their vigorous performance to raise money for the choir to go to Los Angeles?

9. Delores, as Sister Clarence, the jokes about nuns and religion, her room and its poverty? The equivalent of To Sir With Love? Defying the class, taking their names, getting information, their gluing her habit to the chair? Her tough reactions? Eavesdropping about the closure? Tough talk to the kids? Rita opting out? Her talks with Rita, going to visit her mother? The range of boys in the class, the girls? Auditioning them, helping them to sing? The young man and his shyness, bursting into song? The choir, finding out about the competition, preparing the kids, Rita's return?

10. Sister Clarence and her problems with Father Morris, with the Friars, with class, with discipline? Her finding the room for the choir? Training them? The money?

11. The trip to Los Angeles, the kids and their being frightened after the expert choir performance? The Song of Joy, their more modern style, winning?

12. Crisp and his finding the truth, telling Father Morris, their going to Los Angeles, his being hidden in the cupboard? Morris and the friars and their decision to help - and the reckless driving down the freeway?

13. Rita, her attitude, her mother's forcing her to study? Wanting to sing? Defying her mother? Going to Los Angeles? Her mother finding out, proud of her? The other boys and girls, their singing and being transformed?

14. Sister Clarence and her personality, being able to transform people?

15. The message for the American audience - especially the young black audience - to do better in their education and their prospects for life?