The soap-opera career of Motown's most successful group, the Temptations, lends credence to the old belief that great art comes from troubled lives. Over three decades, the band struggled through numerous ego trips, countless members, broken relationships, coke addiction, alcoholism, suicide, cancer, deadly arthritis--in short, all the melodramatic devices necessary for a TV miniseries. This two-and-a-half-hour docudrama touches on all of these personal tragedies, but unfortunately forgets the real reason for the strength of the story: the music. Sure, there's wonderful reenactments of the quintet's finest material, such as "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "The Way You Do the Things You Do," all performed with the slick choreography and shimmering vocal harmonies that made the band legendary. But, unfortunately, director Allan Arkush (Rock and Roll High School) and writers Kevin Arkadie and Robert Johnson forget to put the music into any historical perspective. Why were the Temptations so important? What was their contribution to pop music? By watching this saccharine, manipulative expos?, you'd never know. The performances are nonetheless terrific, especially Charles Malik Whitfield as leader (and narrator) Otis Williams, D.B. Woodside as his partner, Melvin Franklin, and Leon as the group's talented livewire, David Ruffin. The DVD edition offers several fine features including 2.0 Dolby Surround Sound, a discography, cast and crew profiles, extensive production notes, and most important, the ability to jump to any of the seven songs performed... basically the main reason to watch this epic. --Dave McCoy

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The lip synching, dancing, everything was so real. Terron Brooks (Eddie Kendricks) and Leon (David Ruffin) played their characters excellently! In fact, all of the characters were great!

I have watched this movie over and over again. You don't have to be a fan of the group or their music to find this movie entertaining.

But I would like to know why this movie was edited from the version that aired on T-V. If anyone has a copy of that version, please email me. I will gladly pay for a copy.

I highly recommend this movie for anyone! I loved it!

If you've seen it, my favorite line is Leon as David Ruffin telling "Otis" and "Melvin" why the group should be called David Ruffin and the Temptations... "ain't nobody comin' to see you Otis." I love the way he says that line.

Enjoy!

21 of 23 found the following review helpful:

Two thumbs up for Leon and Christian Payton!!May 01, 1999
By Noah Imanu Brown (Singer4Jesus@hotmail.com
Oh my!!! This movie is a great review of the Temptations Legacy! I have to say, though, the television version (the longer version) captures some great and dramatic footage that the video doesn't. Take, for instance, when they were having the party at "Mama Rose's" house, and Paul started singing the song "For Once In My Life" while sloshy drunk. That scene was so dramatic and tear-jerking because even though I'm only 23 years old, I saw the Temptations with the Supremes on TCB and Paul tore that song up! His voice was so great on that show, y'all!! When he sang at the party, it was heart-breaking and tragic. You felt the stress and sorrow in his voice!! Anyway, the movie is fabulous. The actors really portray the Temptations well!!! Leon - the one who played David Ruffin - was exact and to the point. And some people don't know this, but on some of the songs, it was Leon's real voice! Songs like "Shout," and "Beauty's Only Skin Deep." Leon can sing, but I guess he prefers acting. All of the actors portrayed their characters well, but I have to give it to Leon and Christian Payton. Their portrayals of David Ruffin and Paul Williams were to a T. My being a singer myself, I would love to meet Christian Payton and sing a song with him. His voice is real good, and sounded so much like Paul's voice. Hopefully, the TV version will aire again, so we can see the WHOLE movie! Also, hopefully soon, Suzanne DePasse will come out with a movie on the Supremes. So many people are wondering about that. You know, the woman sitting by Melvin Franklin on the second Motor Town Review (from the movie) sipping on a drink while the song "Heatwave" was playing would be a good candidate for the character of Florence Ballard for the Supremes movie. She looks so much like her! Or Faith Evans could play Flo also... Anyway, back to the Temptations. Buy the video! It is worth it. It will mak you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you sing and rejoice, it will make you go out and buy albums from the Temptations! Two thumbs up and five stars for all of the actors, but mainly for Leon and Christian Payton. Because of the movie, Christian might land a record deal! Well, see you all and be blessed on today! Noah Imanu Brown Singer4Jesus@hotmail.com

26 of 30 found the following review helpful:

GREAT BIO PIC...Mar 05, 2006
By Lawyeraau
This is a lengthy, made for television, feature film that runs nearly three hours. The time will zoom by, as this is an engaging, well-acted production about one of Motown's earliest successes, "The Temptations". The story of this group is told primarily through the eyes of Otis Williams, one of its founding fathers and the true linchpin of the group, as well as its last surviving member. The film details the group's struggle for success from its down and out early days to the pinnacle of success and its eventual induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The songs that propelled "The Temptations" to stardom are capably lip-synched by its talented cast. The viewer sees the beginning of the group in the nineteen fifties and its subsequent rise to fame and fortune. After being signed up by Motown, the future of "The Temptations" was almost assured, given the resources that Motown's music mogul, Barry Gordy, allotted to their development. Once they were a success, crossover was inevitable for such a talented group, and "The Temptations" became a huge hit in mainstream America.

The film details the personal highs and lows of the individual members of the group. Alcoholism, drug use, egotism, and other personal travails would plague its members and, consequently, the group. At times, the group would appear to be on the verge of a total split, especially when its cocaine craving, lead singer, David Ruffin, began making ego fueled demands. Still, the temptations endured, because no one member was bigger than the group. They began as a group, and it is the group that would endure. Though individual members would come and go, the group itself always remained "The Temptations".

This is an excellent bio pic with great music. It is a film that is worthy of being in one's personal collection.

20 of 23 found the following review helpful:

In Love With TemptationsOct 26, 2000
By victoria brown
I think I am The biggest fan of the movie. It was too good to be true. I watch it every day, and my whole family has gotten hooked on it. i fell in love with all of them but I especially like Eddie Kendricks(Terron Brooks), I wish I could find out more about him. He played the part too good. wherever you are Terron, Please e-mail me. You are the greatest actor ever. The whole movie made cry and laugh. I could never get tired of it. The unedited version was much better. i wish they would play it again. I congragulate Christian Payton and Leon for playing your parts so well. The singing justs makes me melt. Whomever choose the actors i congrgulate you also. This movie will be next to me forever. It made me want to find out about the real Temptations. I'mplanning on buying the book and their other videos. I already have the CD's. Everyone out there should see this movie and how great it is. NDelco100@excite.com

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