The big question is can Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles do a J-Lo...or is it going to be a Mariah Carey.

Unfortunately, it looks like the latter as the plaitted warbler looks totally out of her depth as Cuba Gooding Jr's love interest in this misfiring comedy.

Where at least La Lopez has movies of the calibre of Out of Sight (let's draw a veil over Gigli) on her CV, Knowles looks like she'd be happier in a TV soap.

She plays Lilly, a nightclub singer ostracised by the Baptist community in the Georgia backwater of Monte Carlo for being a single mother.

Along comes slick-talking but skint New York advertising executive Darrin Hill (Gooding Jr) to claim the inheritance of his dead aunt.

However, before he can trouser the moulah, he's got to knock the local gospel choir into shape for the annual "Gospel Explosion" singing contest.

Who better than the outcast Lilly to lead the harmonies...but she (rightly) thinks Darrin's a fraud and has no time for smalltown prejudice.

Where this hits the right note is the rich cast of peripheral characters - the weak-kneed priest and the prejudiced church treasurer who condemns "r'n'b sex music".

Even the legendary soul combo The O'Jays pop up as a barbershop quartet to lend The Fighting Temptations a bit of rhythmic muscle.

However, Gooding Jr and Knowles' sexual chemistry wouldn't last long under the microscope.

It's been so long since the Academy Award-winning actor had a decent role it looks like he could be Cuba Gooding Snr when the next one comes around.

Resembling no-one so much as Gary Wilmot after gurning lessons from Sid James, he's the least convincing city slicker ever to stride the corridors of corporate Manhattan.

As usual, it's the music that comes to the rescue as Darrin builds up the choir with oddballs such as a drunken organist and three felons from the local chain gang.

Comedian Michael Epps adds zest as the local lothario Lucius, quipping "booty is in the eye of the beholder".

Upbeat, cheerful and entirely predictable it's the type of fare you'll hum along to...even if you don't sing it from the rooftops.

Tim Evans