The movie was good with a very strong cast. This movie shows how people can go to church and still have evil thoughts on how to scheme. With those type of schemes, you should never receive a high title, such as: the Pastor of the church. If you're a spiritual person and you haven't seen this movie yet, then you should check it out. There is a positive point to the movie.

This movies plot line is simple and old, it is as I titled my review, the return of the prodigal son retold. The son who turns his back on the church and his family is David Taylor, played by Boris Kodjoe. The son of a pastor he loses his faith when his mother dies feeling that God and his father let him down. He and his best friend Charles Frank played by Idris Elba were both studying to become reverends.

David leaves and we jump forward fifteen years, and becomes a very popular secular singing idol. We see his decadent life style where he wants for nothing. But then he gets a call that his father is ill and he heads back home. His father is played well by Clifton Powell. And by this time his best friend Charles is a self-centered egocentric man that is using the church to try and promote himself. The real story is to give us a look inside of black church society and at the same time it is a story of redemption for both of these young men. The gospel music does add to the film. It changes along with the times and what is transpiring within the church community.

So we have a low budget film about morality, faith, hope and recovery with some good original gospel music. The acting was not great and the plot line did have some holes for the supporting cast. But the story line of the main character is engaging and entertaining. So as other have said, just sit back and enjoy this simple tale.

Boris Kodjoe plays the part of David, a pastor's son who plans to follow in his father's footsteps. When tragedy strikes their family, David becomes disillusioned with his father and leaves home. He becomes a pop star and his career is advancing well when he receives a phone call telling him that his father is ill. He returns to his home town, only to discover that his old friend Frank is taking over the church and leading it to be a showcase for him rather than a house of worship. Several topics are touched on in the movie--the difficulties of being a "preacher's kid", pastors whose egos influence their decisions, and the ugliness of church politics. It's not the most polished movie around and it does not have the best script, but when the gospel numbers come on, they light up the screen and draw in the audience with their sheer exuberance. My advice is to to forget the flaws and just enjoy!

This movie was interesting, sort of like how looking at an automobile wreck on the highway as you drive by is interesting.

The basic plot was easy enough to pick up on, but it was so weirdly put together that it was hard to follow who to be rooting for, and what character's motives were. Perhaps this was intended; I'm not sure. Either way, I did not enjoy watching the movie, except for the last fifteen minutes or so.

I agree with the reviewer who said that this movie should not have been titled the gospel. I did not like the movie at all. If I weren't already a born-again Christian, there would be nothing in this movie that would lead me in that direction. It seemed like a lot of big-named gospel and secular singers were trying to get in the limelight in this movie. There was so much confusion that you couldn't tell where one scene ended and began. This movie could have been done much better. The only reason I didn't give a zero is because Donnie McClurkin's played his part well.

'The Gospel' is not a music extravaganza with a story tacked on. Nor is it the opposite. It has a good story with fine gospel music added intermitently throughout. Both aspects complement one another, and the whole experience is uplifting. The acting is decent, neither over the top nor Oscar caliber, but everyone makes it an authentic experience all the same.

The story is one of redemption. David Taylor (Boris Kodjoe) rushes to the side of his dying mother in a hospital while he is begging God to spare her life. She is unconscious, but passes away under his watch. His father, a minister, shows up after the fact, tardy because he was at a bible conference. David is bitter at God and his earthly father, so he takes a different track in life. Moving from his native Atlanta to Los Angeles, he finds all the trappings that the secular world has to offer. Money, fame, music, and women enrapture him as he becomes a rap star. He seems comfortable although it isn't perfect. He starts to lock heads with a fellow artist who claims contract privileges with his music. The street wiseness puts in a minor damper and a bit of fisticuffs for David. That is until his own father's health starts to fail... Then, David interrupts everthing, including a contractual tour, to go home and investigate. One of the best aspects of the movie is how it demonstrates the disparity between the faithful and the wayward. It isn't all clear cut. The church members aren't all judgmental hypocrites, and the sinners aren't all noble and wrongly maligned. Rather, we see the skeptical reactions as the son of a preacher comes home to try and heal divisions of his father's church. Understandably, many don't take him seriously when his biggest hit is "I'll Try to Undress You". Bridging the gap, he falls in love with a regular attendee, but he quickly learns that being on the prowl doesn't work with this church woman. Similarly, as David responds to his father's ailing health and the need for a new church, he also changes. His priorities become new and different. The movie plausibly and likably show how relationships change as his father is dying and his successor takes over the church. The way they resolve the plot is worth the time to see "The Gospel".

Perhaps the most compelling reason most see the movie is the inspiration. The music is uplifting, and the camera angles showcase a splendid jamboree. I think there is a temptation to think of this movie as a slightly glorified made-for-tv project, but the editing and the splendour of the church singing beg for a labored response. 'The Gospel' does all it sets out to do and does it well.

I loved this movie.it showed that no matter how far away we get from God that He is always there calling us to come back home.Superb!

Your take on this movie will depend on why you are watching it. "The Gospel" will leave you disappointed if you actually want to hear the Gospel.

If you want to see the problems with being raised a preachers kid, being disgusted with "church business", rejecting the faith for the world and then seeing the faith that was instilled as a youth come back to life-(a modern day prodigal son story)- you will enjoy the movie. Otherwise, the camera work and acting is barely balanced by the music.

I was looking forward to seeing this movie. After waiting weeks I was disappointed. All the trailers had Patty Labelle singing and I got the impression I would see more of her. Unfortunately she had very little on screen time.
The story line was very weak. A litttle to much violence @ the beginning for me. There were a few laughs but overall I ca
n't really recommend buying this dvd. It's okay for a rental.
If there is a Gospel II I hope they will develop the story line a little better.

I liked this movie's strong and diverse cast, music, and story line, but it seemed like a few aspects of the plot weren't really wrapped up enough for me at the end. Maybe writers/producers/directors have left themselves open to The Gospel II? (I would definitely watch that one too.) If you are going to see The Gospel, try to also see "Something to Sing About." The Gospel has a bit more, "edge," than "Something to Sing About" though, but the two movies may complement each other's themes nicely.

The main character, Boris Kodjoe, wasn't really that superb in this film. Although he's a good television actor, he wasn't really ready for the big screen. I think the producers used his looks to attract the females to seeing the movie more so than his acting. Someone said in an interview that he did all off his singing...false. It was so obvious that he was lip-syncing over someone else's deeper voice. And Tamyra Gray...that was a no no having her as a lead actress and singer. Did you not hear her when she opened with the Star Spangled Banner for the American Idol finale' season three...a big NO NO! She's not developed as an actor to do big screen yet, and her singing could use a fine tuning. She has a way to go before she becomes believable as a serious actress. Again, something to draw men to the theater. I understood where the movie was trying to go, and anyone who's read the bible or even been to church knows the story, but the movie just didn't take you there. I enjoyed the music because I'm a singer, but the movie just didn't take you where it should've. There were too many holes in the movie. Plus, it didn't really teach anyone who doesn't know about the Gospel. To me, it even made the veteran actors look like amateurs. I did enjoy seeing Omar Gooding stretch his wings and show versatility. I would love to see him in more versatile roles in the future. He's really a great actor when he gets great scripts. I think the singing and the major singers is what drew people to see this film because the acting was really bad and unbelievable, and the over dubbed singing was horrible. It was so many times that the music and the singers were not linked. I'm a analyzer when it comes to movies and a movie buff (owning overr 600 movies), so I definitely saw the flaws in this film. I still love the producers because I own some of his movies, and they are superb at what they do, but the actors where just not believable and had no chemistry with each other.

I didn't like it at all. Too much singing and bad acting. The storyline was alright, but I wasn't feeling this one. Good thing my movie pass covered it, otherwise I would have been upset the $4 was gone...but if you're into the whole church movie scene then you'll enjoy it. But still, the acting was BAD. I'm filing it away as another BBM....

The Gospel is a movie which to me, was very moving and I enjoyed the music and the story line as well. I recommend this movie to all who are Christians or at least spiritual.

I commend Rob Hardy on what he attempted to do - make a movie about blacks that didn't involve a great amount of sex and violence. Bless him. Unfortunately, it's still a subpar film with plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon and a ton of dangling plots. I can't even talk about the plot holes because that would give so much of the movie away.

The main problem aside from telling a story that didn't need retelling for the 80th time (the Prodigal friggin' Son!?!?) is that Hardy hitched his wagon to the wrong stars, feeling that pretty boy Boris Kodjoe and American Idol wannabe Tamyra Gray would bring the people in and pimped them as such. Maybe they did, and don't get me wrong. They didn't embarass themselves. But compared to the rest of the cast, they were easily the weak links. Had Hardy had more faith in the other cast members, he would've had a much more compelling and original story. Donnie McClurkin made an excellent addition to the cast - who knew he could at act all, let alone act so well? (And who knew he was so BIG?) Too bad he's a minister, because I would LOVE to see him play a straight-up gun-toting bad guy. Aloma Wright and Clifton Powell are acting veterans, and it showed. Idris Elba and Nona Gaye - fingers crossed that they reunite in the future to do a REAL film. It's been a while since we've seen a black couple onscreen with equal parts chemistry and conflict that didn't completely fall completely flat. (Plus, they're just really, REALLY pretty people.)

The whole music angle could've been completely tossed - in fact, the movie probably would've been better without it. In my opinion, the film should've concentrated on Bishop Taylor's announcement of Rev. Frank taking his place, leading to a clash with Min. Hunter. Think of all the unanswered questions. Why DID Bishop Taylor choose the much younger Frank over Min. Hunter, who ADMINISTERED Frank his minister's test so many years ago? How did the minister justify his blatant jealousy seeing that one of the commandents is "thou shall not covet"? How did the Bishop feel about his term as bishop coming to an end BECAUSE of the way it was coming to an end? And seeing that Frank and his wife were having martial problems, was Frank ever tempted by women in his church (especially with his new ego)? Why did Frank want the role of pastor so much, anyway? We know that Frank really, REALLY loves the Lord - his ambition almost consumes him - but we never know WHY he was so driven. What about Charlene's problem? Was it mental, medical, physical, and when did it start? When Charlene ultimately had to make a choice between her cousin and her husband, why did she make the choice that she made? And when it backfired, how did she feel? Speaking of feelings, how did Bishop Taylor feel years ago when Frank decided to marry his niece? It's obvious that he loves/respects Frank as a minister, but how about as his nephew-in-law? Did he choose Frank BECAUSE of his marriage to Charlene, or was that a coincidence? What was the status of Bis. Taylor's relationship with Charlene, seeing that she called him "Bishop" and not "Uncle"?

All of those questions could've been answered in a great film, but no...we have to pander to the common ground. A story we all already know, and singing. Lots of singing. GOOD singing, but singing nonetheless. May as well have been rap, or basketball, or whack poetry. It felt like Hardy didn't trust that blacks would come and support a movie without a "gimmick". And don't get me wrong, "The Gospel" is still an engaging film with strong acting - very refreshing to see new faces onscreen - and a wonderful soundtrack. Had it had another writer/director with a different vision but the same cast, it probably would've been MUCH better, hence my frustration. Then again, this guy gave us "Trois", so I don't know why I'm surprised.

I just saw "The Gospel" on DVD -- where I suspect most people saw it since it stayed in feature realease all of a hot half-a-minute.

My initial reaction to this prodigal-son tale was that the music alone made the film worth its admission price: Yolanda Adams, Tamyra Gray, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Donnie McClurkin.

I was wrong. The music is pretty much all that's good in this flick.

There are some decent performances. Patriarch Clifton Powell ages gracefully and credibly as a terminal cancer patient.

Mildly villainous Idris Elba is compelling each time he's on screen, as is Tamyra Gray with the added bonus of her powerful and at times angelic singing voice.

Even Omar Gooding takes a break from his usual buffoonery to be taken seriously.

Good music and more than enough eye candy (somethin' for everybody). But what this thing really coulda used was a talented star. And a fresh script.

Boris Cujo didn't pull off leading man. When folk stop droolin', what else you got, Son?

Cujo is insufferable as a (literally) no-singin' singer (he lip-synchs over dubbed vocals). I guess his "big moment" comes during a clichéd graveyard scene where he goes off on God. Brothaman, please.

Actually I was pretty much through when they decided to put on the big show to save the church!

But the music is exceptional, and at least the other singers really sing. Especially Yolanda Adams on the show-stoppin' "Victory."

This was an excelent film, filled with beautiful music. The story line and cast made it sensational. This is worth every dime put into it. In the end, you should breathe with the sigh of relief, and maybe you might feel like going to church!!!

This is definitely a movie to see. It will tug at your heart strings and have you jumping out of your seat all at the same time. Wonderful "down home" type of movie.

This is one of only a few movies that I have ever seen that show the realities of the Christian life. "The Gospel" shows the tensions and struggles that occur within the church and church family among people trying to live for God in our culture.

"The Gospel" may at times seem low-budget compared to some of the blockbusters we see in theatres, but it compensates with truth and emotion. The characters are real, their struggles are real and the presence of God in this movie is real.

The music throughout this movie is exceptional. Regardless of your musical interests, I think you will enjoy the songs.

"The Gospel" has been labled a modern version of The Prodigal Son--it is that and more as we see the pastor's son torn between secular success and salvation at home in the church, and we see a young, fresh pastor decide whether he is going to work for his name or God's name. There are tensions between the sexes, between friends, between fellow ministers, and especially between a man's will and the will of God.

I didn't know anything about this movie before renting it, but I am truly proud of the people who made it and acted in it for presenting such a profound version of the gospel. Now I'm going to buy the soundtrack.

Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

Poorly developed plot. Even more poorly developed characters. Really bad acting in the lead role. The dialog between characters just doesn't explain the plot, and you are forced to guess what's going on half the time. A woman who can't have sex apparently because of some medical condition (but you never find out why), the same woman who at first seems good, then betrays her cousin, then somehow turns good again. The beginning of the story has the lead role's mother dying, but you never find out why, and her husband never bothers shedding a tear or acting surprised that he arrives to find his wife is dead. This movie really should have been more carefully planned, and a better lead role cast. Despite all this, I gave the movie a 3 because it does manage to be entertaining with the gospel music and with what script it has to work with. The storyline for the movie is a great one, and done in this light it could have been much, much more with a better script and a better lead actor. The camera work is really good, and slightly unusual in places. I hope a remake is made someday with a better budget and script. It's worth seeing, but it's not something I would buy if I had it to do over again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Gospel as it depicted painful areas in the church be it corporate or individual. The main actor did a very good job of showing how you can exercise balance over material gain versus spirituality to exercising moral fortitude and restraint of the flesh(sacrifice to "Save the Family"). Unfortunately, a decision that is grappled with daily. Hopefully, those who experience issues of this nature will think things out a little more, after seeing this movie. It also depicted good judgment of a mentor to make the right decision while knowing and understanding flaws and weaknesses. The true church came out in every aspect, the frailities and weaknesses reflected were "real life issues" that should be commended. The emphasis of "whosoever will let him come" was a major vision of the movie instead of secular vs church or vice versa. Hopefully, if the vision is interpreted right people will begin to experience the "Gospel" of the true church and that depravity is a major issue in the church and that no human should stand in judgment of another. I believe the overall emphasis was to experience a personal relationship between you and Christ. The movie was "REAL." I enjoyed every aspect of the movie and its message. The music was on target for every scene. Congrats to all the characters for a good job.

"The Gospel" has good music, but compared to the other films of this genre, it is sorely lacking in content. The ending, in particular, was anti-climatic and did not flow together in logical sequence. It's good to pass the time, but don't count on it to give that up-lifting, soul-healing feeling that other religious based films have imparted.

This was one of the best movies I have ever seen!! I would love to join the church portrayed in "The Gospel". I Felt like we were having a church service right at the movie theatre...
A definite movie for the whole family and "The Gospel" soundtrack is a musthave!

The Gospel tells a simple story that doesn't twist and turn, but rather falls naturally from the believable characters created in Rob Hardy's screenplay and under his direction. Hardy has wisely filled his movie with absolutely glorious Gospel music created by electrifying choirs and real Gospel greats like Fred Hammond and Yolanda Adams. The movie is never more than one scene away from one with glorious music and as soon as I finish this review I'm going to order the soundtrack.

The story is not difficult to follow. Clifton Powell as Bishop Fred Taylor has built a thriving church in Atlanta, and he is a devoted Pastor. So devoted that his son leaves home as a young man when the Bishop's wife passes away while the Bishop is conducting church services. In the opening scene we see the son, David, telling the Bishop "I hate you. You always have time for the church, but you never have time for us", on his way out of the hospital.

15 years later we see that David Taylor has become a hip-hop singer right on the cusp of megastardom. He's played by Boris Kodjoe as a handsome, brooding man. He has a manager, played by Omar Gooding (with more than a slight resemblance to older brother Cuba) named Wesley who keeps "D.T." supplied with gigs and women. David gets a phone call from his father's secretary, Ernestine (played by Aloma Wright), who tells him that the Bishop has become ill and could David come home.

Against Wesley's wishes, David interrupts his tour as it's gaining momentum to return to the church, where he finds his teenaged friend Charles Frank has become a Reverend as well - associate pastor to the Bishop, married to his cousin Charlene, and the heir apparent to the church.

The Reverend Charles Frank is an arrogant man who is quick with a discouraging word for his wife. Another associate, Minister Hunter (played well by singer Donnie McClurkin), can't understand when the Bishop decides to turn the pulpit over to the brash Reverend Frank, but agrees to stay with the church at the request of the Bishop.

This is the part of the movie that builds sympathy for wayward son David, who returns home with different eyes and sees the noble, charitable work that his father has been doing for decades. He accompanies his father to a retirement home where he's told that the Bishop always comes, at least twice a week, even though everyone there knows he doesn't have time for it.

The movie builds as a battle between the worldly David, who returns home as the performer of sexy secular songs, but builds in determination to not lose the legacy of his father, and Reverend Frank, who "stayed true" to the church and the Bishop, but now seems to have lost the vision of anything except himself in the church spotlight.

By the end of the film the words and body language of all the characters are that "it's all good", and that the strife that has filled the hour and a half preceding is resolved. We know that real life doesn't work that quickly, but we can believe that in real life, it may work out just as well. The music helps. It's reassuring to see a mainstream film made about people of faith and their real-world struggles. If not for the fact that the final scene seems out of place with several rapid "changes of heart" I'd give the film 5 stars. As it is, it's well worth your time - I'd say mandatory if you want to hear some glorious gospel music.

I think this movie's so awesome! My kind of praise and worship music, gospel stars and a movie that all we all can relate to. I think it's a great tool to win souls for Jesus.

My fiance, Jay, and I loved the movie. It's an excellent movie. The music is the best! We give the movie 5 stars but we give the DVD 1 star or 0 stars. We bought the DVD a couple of weeks ago at Walmart.

THE DVD IS DEFECTIVE!!!!!! It doesn't perform properly in DVD Players/Recorders. We tried to play it on Jay's Sony Combo DVD Player/VCR but it wouldn't play at all nor show a menu. We tried it several times and it wouldn't work. HE'S HAD THE DVD PLAYER FOR 3 YRS & WE'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS PLAYING OTHER DVDS ON ANY OF OUR OTHER PLAYERS.

We tried playing it on his Lite-On 5005 DVD Recorder (had for over yr). The first time we put it in the player, we got backqround noise that was very snowy and sounded like a CB on the Recorder's menu. He took the DVD out and reloaded it. It played all the way thru with no problems.

I took the DVD home and played it in a Cyberhome DVD player (had for 2 1/2 yrs). It played fine for the first 120 minutes of the movie but it started freezing. I tried hitting PLAY, REW, & FF, but it wouldn't unfreeze. I had to go back to the menu and select the last scene I saw. It played until I got to the same spot again and it froze. It started freezing up every few seconds in the movie.

Sometimes it wouldn't unfreeze at all, even if I tried to push STOP or turn the power off it wouldn't let me on the remote and the unit itself. I had to go behind the TV and flip the power switch off the surge protector strip to cut the power off. Then I'd turn the switch on & tried to play the DVD again. I had to repeat this procedure of turning the power off behind the TV a couple more times.

It took 1 1/2 - 2 hours just to get thru the last 20 minutes of the movie because it kept freezing up.

I took the movie back to a different Walmart & exchanged it for another one, this time for one with a different sticker that said it had a free CD. We tried playing it on the Sony Player and it still wouldn't play.

Don't buy the DVD. Wait awhile to buy it or rent it and see if it will play in your player.

There is something about THE GOSPEL that makes you want to like it: some fine actors (Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Clifton Powell, Tamyra Gray, Aloma Wright, Nona Gaye) and good gospel singing.

Writer/director Rob Hardy stretches the biblical tale of the Prodigal Son to the updated story of the son of a bishop of an evangelical church who runs away to become a R&B singing star only to return to his father when cancer of the prostate signals the end of his life. The 'other' son has inherited the mantle of the bishop with special interests deflecting his commitment to the bishop's origins and the Prodigal Son finally finds acceptance in offering his talents to further the original dream of his father.
The movie contains good snippets of music from ensemble choirs and well-known gospel singers. The movie had a plot with these songs intertwined, yet because the songs were kept short, it did not overload the movie with music. (However, if you are a gospel music lover, I think you'll still be pleased.) Yes, some may write it off as predictable, and a bit sappy, but that's also what got me about it. The movie speaks to you without feeling like it's preaching to you

The script is conversationally pedestrian but the actors did their best to make credible characters. There is a sense of commitment from the cast of extras that leaves a warm afterglow, but in the end this is a light story saved by some fine music.

But I did not like this movie.

Boris was totally unbelievable as a singer and I felt he and Clifton Powell never connected as father/son. They were unbelievable as relatives.

Now the young kid who played David as a teen. He was GOOD. His acting as a singer was believable and he was pretty cute.


Yolanda Adams rocked the house!!! As usual.

I didn't like the message because I never GOT IT.

First it was Boris/David coming home...then it was loyalty to his father...then it was the arrogant preacher...then it was the wife that wouldn't give him none...then it was her mad at David about????...then it was the contracts...

The characters were all over the place. I still don't know if the wife was a good guy or bad guy or if she liked David or hated him.

I wish they'd have let Donnie McClurkin sing. His acting was stiff and uninspiring. He should stick to singing.

And Rev PIMP DADDY. (Never paid attention to his name just know he was the pastor of the mega church)
No words.... *shaking my head*

I wish I'd just bought the Sound track instead of wasting my money on the movie.

The Gospel, one of the most exciting movies ever released about the black church, is now available on DVD. Boris Kodjoe (Soulfood), stars as David Taylor. David, the son of a popular minister, leaves the church after the untimely death of his mother and goes on to be a successful R&B singer. After his father, portrayed by popular character actor Clifton Powell, becomes ill, David returns to the fold of the family church which is in financial crisis. Not everyone is glad to see David return. Some members of the church, particularly his former childhood friend, Reverend Charles Frank, don't know if it's such a good idea to have a well known secular singer in the fold. David finds himself comfortable back in the church and implements his ideas into rejuvenating the congregation. In addition to his new role with the church David also finds love with a church member named Rain (Tamyra Gray). David's manager Wesley, (Omar Gooding), spends his time trying to get his artist back into the lifestyle they have become accustomed to and back on the road.

The Gospel is an excellent film and includes cameos from some of the biggest names in gospel music including Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, and Yolanda Adams. Despite the big names that have small roles in the film, it's the newcomers such as former American Idol contestant Tamarya Gray and Idris Elba who offer surprisingly good performances. Boris Kodjoe also shows and proves that he is much more than just a pretty face with his performance in The Gospel.

There were just a few little things about the movie that irked me. Oscar, Tamarya Grays other love interest was always shown in his uniform for the most part. As a military spouse, I think it's a bit odd that they showed Oscar in his uniform so much even when he wasn't working. Also, there was an underlying storyline of strife/sexual dysfunction between the Nona Gaye character and her husband Reverend Charles Frank. This storyline wasn't well developed. Other than those two things it's a great film.

DVD Special Features
-Filmmakers Commentary
-Deleted Scenes
-Making-Of Featurette
-Extended Musical Performances
-Photo Montage

David Taylor lost his faith in God when his prayer to keep his mother alive wasn't answered. Instead of following his Father into the ministry, David became an R&B singer. His father's illness brought him back to the church just in time to save himself and help out his church. The story was good, the music was beautiful.

whle the film was underwritten&was lacking in places,it had a message of coming together.family&Friend relationships are very important&before you start judging you have to make sure that you yourself is together. this film does have a uplift feel&everything comes together at the end.it takes a loss to make everybody come together.i enjoyed the Music.props to Kirk Franklin,Fred Hammonds,Donnic Mcclurkin&Yolanda Adams amonget others who gave off there talent.

Boris Kodjoe and newcomer Tamyra Gray were the lead characters along with long lost Aloma Wright who plays Ms Ernestine. Ms Ernestine is like the Pastor's right hand woman. She is like the female leader of the church without giving her a title. Clifton Powell was the co-founding pastor of a church which helped recruit 2 young sons to become ministers of the Word. One, Boris Kodjoe - David Tyler went on to become a secular singer after his mother's passing and his father's abandonment emotionally.(David is the Pastors son) The other, Charles Frank who stayed in the church became a full- fledged minister and eventually through Pastor Tyler's death takes over the church.
The problem is NEVER in this movie do the people PRAY!!!! The Gospel should be about Prayer. Now later on in the movie which is the most touching part, Charles Frank seems like he has lost his soul. He goes to God and asks for his forgiveness and on Sunday preaches about the mistakes he has made and those who have made mistakes. The movie ends with Minister Hunter becoming the Assistant Pastor he should have been all along and Brother David Tyler coming back Home to help find the church the was once ALMOST lost. Not bad and the songs were GREAT!!!
For One who is religious you will definitely enjoy the singing of Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Fred Hammond and the new Tamyra Gray. Im glad Ms Gray has had a chance to showcase her talents. Fot those who dont remember who she is. She was once on American Idol opposite Fantasia Barrino- Free Yourself.
I'd suggest some go out and buy it; others go out and borrow it.

unfortunately, this movie should not have been called "the gospel" or anything close to the gospel. it did not glorify the reason for the gospel (the good news),which is Jesus Christ, and didn't even come close to expressing anything that would spark anyone's curiosity into the actual gospel.

part of the plot in this movie was when the church needed a new building and did not have the funds for it. there was hardly any prayer involved or church participation to raise money. boris kodjoe's character saved the church with HIS talents and with HIS money. the church was of no use to him,but he was used by the church. in essence,his character was glorified,not Christ's and sends out the message that the church will put a stamp of approval on practically anything, so long as it benefits the church. never mind the condition of your soul,or how your life is as a christian: you can be living however which way you want,call yourself a christian and the church will look the other way as long as you are benefiting their "needs".

at the end, David the main character,surrenders his life to GOD--but who specifically is he surrendering it to? nowadays,the mention of GOD doesn't necessarily mean a thing. we all know that, yet the movie is called "the gospel".

all i'm saying is there is a boatload of other titles the writers and producers of this movie could have chosen to name this movie, like "the gospel music entertainers" or "the somewhat prodigal son". if you're going to call the movie, "the gospel" then make it about the gospel or put accurate facts about the gospel in it as your primary point,with your secondary point showing black american church culture or gospel entertainment. otherwise, it just falls flat and it becomes another entertaining,toe-tapping attempt to portray humanism, not christianity/the gospel.

A story of redemption, pride, jealousy, and reconciliation. STRONG cast with a stirring gospel soundtrack. Although others have criticized the camera work and editing, those aspects of the movie neither bothered me nor detracted from my enjoyment of this uplifting film. I found that the acting, music, and story were engaging and enjoyable. The singing performances of the choral groups and such gospel stars as Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammonds, Mom Winans, and Martha Munizzi combined nicely with, and elegantly complemented, the fine dramatic work of Idris Elba, Omar Gooding, Nona Gaye, and Clifton Powell. AMERICAN IDOL finalist Tamyra Gray shined in her acting and singing roles and showed that she has a bright future. Not an award winning film, but very entertaining. 4 solid stars.

A great concept. A great cast. Great Singers. Unfortunately for us this movie yields only fair to middling results.

The storyline was underdevoped and the characters too one dimensional for me. Donnie McClurkin's character was pointless. I wish more emphasis was put on the character played by Aloma Wright. She is a very good character actress (in comedy as well as drama). Her character seemed to be the moral conscience of the plot line. We needed more of her. She was the best of the cast even with ther limited role.

Boris Kodjoe is good as the lead character. His performance was superior to anything he did on Showtime's Soul Food. Idris Elba was very good as the preacher with an ego gone awry. He could have used a juicier part.

The cameos were interesting though not really exciting. Hezekiah Walker, Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond were useful for drawing gospel music lovers into the theatre but their presence in the film and suprisingly so their musical renditions fell a little flat. The preaching by Idris Elba was stilted and not authentic. When He spoke it reminded me of his dialogue line to Boris Kodjoe's character; "Why don't you leave church business to church folk."

Am I alone or did Omar Gooding (playing David Taylor's manager get on your nerves? I wanted to scream at the set; "Would you PLEASE shut up and sit down! He was so annoying. In fact alot of the dialogue seemed stereotypical and trite.

I found one scene particularly funny. Remember the scene in which David goes to speak to his deceased father and begins to cry and pray and surrender his will to God? He turns around after he hears his manager tear up a contract behind him but didn't hear the great big hummer pull up being him? I laughed again.

Don't get me wrong, really I liked the movie in several aspects. Visually it was appealing. It was also wonderful to see a movie with a black cast that did not focus on sex, promiscuity, gangs or violence. For that I give the writer(s), producer and director high laude.

The ending seemed abrupt and unfinished and suprisingly like an old Girlfriends (UPN) episode I saw. Joan Clayton and her girlfriend were feuding. They end up at church on a Sunday morning and sit on different pews as the listen to the strains of Donnie McClurkin sing. All of the years of conflict and difficulty were washed away by a gospel song. They proceeded to the altar to cry and hold hands as the gospel music swelled and then faded. Once again, all is right with the world.

This movie should be spun off into a miniseries on HBO, SHOWTIME or BET. It'd be a hit. More time and more spontaneous musical performances were needed to put this over the top.

I really enjoyed this film .the story line might not be the most original but none the less it was very entertaining from the uplifting gospel songs as well as the more somber one's which would include the powerful tear jerker sung by the beautiful and talented Tamyra Gray at the reverends funeral. the film has a great cast which include lead actor Boris Kodjoe and the before mentioned Tamyra Gray who is so talented not only as a singer as well as an actress. anyone who likes gospel music as well as likes a film that has a good message to it will really like this film.