As a rule I don't tend to warm to remakes of classic films however the Penny Marshall directed Christmas story "The Preacher's Wife", is a definite exception and has become one of my favourite festive season viewing experiences. Based on the classic Samuel Goldwyn film "The Bishop's Wife", which starred legends Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, this 1996 effort has a charm and slant on the essentially same story all its own. Denzel Washington in the role of an angel sent down to earth to sort out the life of a preacher who has lost sight of what really is important, is a most worthy successor to Cary Grant in the original film and Whitney Houston in the female lead displays a warm screen presence and great musical talent that couldn't be bettered in this type of story. Amazingly I only saw this film for the first time 3 years ago but it has become a firm favourite of mine ever since. Combining a traditional and much loved Christmas tale with some truly wonderful gospel singing gives this effort a really upbeat feel which however never sacrifices for one minute the more touching aspects of the story.

A truly inspirational and touching story filled with some beautiful music and comic pieces is the best way to describe this beautiful little movie. I love all three lead performances here and it's a joy to see Denzel Washington, normally the star of some intensely dramatic films, in such a charming and light hearted role as Dudley. He displays a fine comic talent and teams especially well with the other two leads. If ever there was a proper successor to Cary Grant in this role then Denzel Washington is it. Whitney Houston does very well in the role of Julia and she displays a nicely touching persona especially in her scenes with her screen son. She of course comes alive in the musical numbers many of which she produced herself. I've become a big fan of gospel music after her terrific rendition of such numbers as,"Step by Step", and especially the show stopping "I believe in you and me". Courtney Vance playing the earlier David Niven role of Henry is also excellent and his performance contains a lot of the dramatic meat of the story as the essentially kind hearted preacher who is torn too many ways and sees himself loosing his family. His work with Denzel Washington in particular is note worthy especially in the scenes when he can't seem to understand just "where", this mysterious helper has suddenly come from. Other standouts in the cast are Loretta Devine as Julia's mother in a very funny performance full of great lines and wry observations about what is happening in the Biggs household, and Gregory Hines as sharp business man Joe Hamilton who in turn is also affected by Dudley's presence in his previously rather shallow life. The look and feel of "The Preacher's Wife", makes it a wonderful newer Christmas viewing experience and much of the credit goes to the church scenes with the St. Matthew's choir taking centre stage. Their singing and expert handling of all the gospel music is perfect and really gets you into the feel of the season.

As a "modern", Christmas story I personally feel "The Preacher's Wife", is a most worthy successor to the well known and greatly loved earlier classics like "White Christmas", and "Miracle on 34th Street". Taking a very different slant on the story than the earlier 'The Bishop's Wife", it manages to be wholly original in its own way and makes delightful seasonal viewing. Try and see this touching film next Christmas and I'm sure it will become a treasured part of your holiday viewing like it is in my home.

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Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) leads a poor church in a struggling neighborhood. He has placed his work above his wife Julia (Whitney Houston) and son Jeremiah. She leads the choir. Property developer Joe Hamilton (Gregory Hines) is taking over the neighborhood. An angel named Dudley (Denzel Washington) comes down to answer Henry's prayers. Henry tries to help local kid Billy Eldridge who is falsely arrested for armed robbery. His incompetent secretary Beverly (Loretta Devine) is concerned that Dudley is replacing her.

This movie is trying for some comedy which Courtney B. Vance is unable to deliver. The pairing of Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston would be great if they're in another movie. Her singing is tremendous but her relationship with Dudley is awkward. She's married and he's an angel. The most compelling part is Billy Eldridge but his part is very small. The whole thing is problematic.

The 1947 classic "The Bishop's Wife" has been one of my favorite Christmas films since I was a teenager, and I've watched it faithfully every couple of years since then. It has been updated and given a fresh twist, and everything really works. Courtney Vance takes on the David Niven role of, here the preacher, and Whitney Houston, taking on the Loretta Young role, is his beautiful, understanding wife, a preacher's daughter herself, basically neglected because of Vance's inner conflicts. Along comes Denzel Washington as Dudley (the Cary Grant role),a very outgoing and childlike angel who literally dropped in to aide Vance with his problems, unintentionally causing more.

Then there's Justin Pierre Edmund, their bubbly angelic little boy, overwhelmed by Dudley's presence, and entranced by his youthful demeanor. Edmund is a joy, loving yet true to what little boys are, and without being obvious about it steals every scene he's in. The conflicts Denzel starts involves the struggling Loretta Devine, Vance's secretary, fearful she's being replaced, and a perfect combination of feistiness and clumsiness. Devine's one of those actresses who plays characters you wish you knew, and her heart shines through in every scene she's in. Jenifer Lewis, as Houston's widowed mother, is a preacher's widow, now unafraid of being a bit of a devil every once in a while. Gregory Hines isn't as showy in the role that Gladys Cooper played, but that plotline is secondary in this version.

With gospel music thrown in deliciously throughout, this gets the fingers snapping, the toes tapping and the heart fluttering with the spirit of the holidays with a theme that is as fresh nearly 25 years after as it was nearly 75 years ago when the original Samuel Goldwyn film got a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Whitney shines with her gorgeous smile as radiant as Loretta Young's, and Vance is every bit as spirituality confused as Niven's bishop was. But it's Denzel, sweet Edmund, high-strung Devine and Lewis who share the honors of stealing the film, and there's no contrition required for that theft.