This is one great feel-good movie. I was going to say a feel-good holiday movie, which it is, but the message of "The Preacher's Wife" transcends Christmas time. It is a movie that exudes love, warmth, morals and values which are above reproach, and it touches the heart. While some may say that it is a bit too treacle, more movies these days should be made with this type of feeling.

Denzel and Whitney are a sparkling onscreen couple. Denzel gives an understated yet powerfully funny performance. He brings to life the most human angel I've ever seen on film, and "Dudley" is thus transformed into someone we can all relate to... who isn't longing for "Dudley" and "Julia" to end up together, even though we know that it can never be?! As for Whitney's performance, she has most definitely made giant strides and is a wonderful actress in this movie (working with the likes of Oscar winners and nominees Kevin Costner, Angela Bassett, and Denzel Washington have definitely rubbed off). Although Whitney is no Meryl Streep, not every one is, and Whitney gives her most affecting and dynamic performance to date. Every time she smiles, the screen explodes, and her performance at "Jazzie's" made me fall in love with her all over again.

Even though the movie is entitled "The Preacher's Wife," it is the preacher who is really what this movie is all about. Courtney B. Vance breathes a wonderful susceptibility into the preacher, whom we all root for. Who hasn't doubted their reason for existence, their purpose in life? While we root for Denzel and Whitney, we also know that we want Courtney and Whitney to work things out, a strange twist being that, in films, we usually root for 1 couple or the other.

Justin Pierre Edmund is beyond cute, but isn't a disgustingly sweet presence that a lot of child actors are. He has definite talent and he tugs at the heartstrings, especially when he pines for Hakeem.

Loretta Devine and Jenifer Lewis steal every single scene in which they appear. I wish Loretta's role was expanded a bit... she's worthy of all her recent film successes.

Gregory Hines character was a little too much of a typical villain to really be a dramatic threat. While Hines is a wonderful talent, he wasn't really given much to work with. His villain needed more substance.

The settings, the atmosphere, and the music are so important to the overall feeling of the movie, and Penny Marshall gets an "A" for her choices in each category. If making a great movie about wonderful themes is what was foremost on Marshall's mind, this movie answers all of her prayers. The message is timeless.

submitted by Ralph Martinez, Jr.