MovieChat Forums > Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) Discussion > Ruined by its ending...

Ruined by its ending...

posted 13 years ago by im-weasel-819-592057
17 replies | jump to latest

I think this is a beautiful, funny and moving movie about hope, dreams and passion, but once again I find myself disappointed by this mania of americans for happy endings... Do you (americans) really love that much happy/winning endings everytime? I am italian and I know that our cultures are slightly different, infact, as italian, I'm used to bitter endings (even in comedies!) :-)
But wouldn't this movie be better, more realistic and yet edifying if the choir didn't win? I am not much expert in music, but seeing the other choirs I don't think that St. Francis's was supposed to win; maybe they could reach the third place and however, seeing how good the kids were, the diocese would have feel compelled to keep the school open, to come back stronger at the following year's competition.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] im-weasel-819-592057 13 years ago

I was just sorry because it's a very nice movie and everytime it comes to the end, I feel like shutting it off.

[–] mariabrown1973 13 years ago

The ending is my favorite part! I love that they've made popular 90s songs into Christian songs!

[–] fvshkatie 12 years ago

The movie is a musical comedy and you want it to end by the whole choir getting canned and winding up on the streets begging for food?

Bitter endings as you call them, are a peculiarly European film device---uplift the spirit and then bring us all back to some sort of perceived "reality" which completely derails the audience bringing them from laughter to tears. There is nothing wrong with this but it is as artificial a cinematic device as the American tendency to happy endings.

In real life, there both happy endings and sad ones. Americans tend to like happy endings because the world has enough sad ones.

[–] fred1239 12 years ago

Meaningful endings where the team or choir in this case lose are nice, but not every film of this type should end that way. Some times people just want to see a nice happy ending.

[–] Ash-lee 11 years ago

Do you (americans) really love that much happy/winning endings every time?

Yes. But that is not about me being an American - it is just me. I have traveled over the world (living in Germany for a short time) and there is enough sadness everywhere. I'll take my happy endings when I get them.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] JaysonT 11 years ago

The way that choir threw it down on the stage- they DESERVED to win first place- they did classical and then went all out with hip hop and old school all at once. How could one NOT give them the first place medal?

[–] purplenad2004 11 years ago

I think the choir's win showed the diocese what could be going forward. If the school is good enough to win, then they're good enough to keep open.

[–] mitchbear 11 years ago

Its called a Hollywood ending and its influenced a number light comedy films like this from other countries too. A number of British comedies from the 90 until now use the same formula. Check out "The Full Monty", "Brassed Off", "Greenfingers" they all deal with an underdog group of individuals trying to somewhat successfully overcome adversity. Its commercial and what studio want to market to movie goers. "Sister Act 2" falls into the same category of the "FEEL GOOD" film that studios and most movie goers love. A very light comedy with little conflict thrown in that will be resolved in the last reel. Films of and 70's and some Classic ones from the 80's would not survive in the world Hollywood today without the interference of Studio heads demanding this so-called happy, feel good ending. I agree with you and I love films with a little more conflict and ending that are unresolved. "Sister Act 2" is a fantasy film with a fantasy ending. Thinks what films like "Ordinary People", "Raging Bull", "Easy Rider" and "The Godfather" would be like if Hollywood marketing demanded the ending changed to a more upbeat conclusion....

[–] actionmanrandell 10 years ago

I am sorry but in that type of situation the Church diocese would not and i mean not keep them open if they had lost

[–] velcronewsletter 10 years ago

in this case, the happy ending made complete sense