Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Harmless, silly tale with vibrant music and dance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT reunites the hip, fast-talking, heart-of-gold Las Vegas singer, Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) with the good-hearted nuns from the original Sister Act. The nuns desperately need Deloris' talent and smarts to inspire the joyless, unmotivated students in their San Francisco parochial high school. Deloris thus finds herself once again masquerading as Sister Mary Clarence, just as St. Francis School is about to be shut down. Will Sister Mary Clarence be able to uncover the amazing hidden talent in her classroom of underachievers? Will that talent soar in a state competition and save the school?
Is It Any Good?
Foregoing the mobster-themed, witness-protection angle of the original comic Sister Act, this sequel is crime-free, villain-free and, unfortunately, comparatively comedy-free. The story moves along with the thinnest of plots (most complications are based on convenient eavesdropping or obvious misunderstanding). Trite characters find themselves in trite situations.
Whoopi Goldberg's energy and enjoyment, however, are contagious. And the wide variety of music, performed with zest and sparkle by the young performers, at least makes the movie watchable. (Lauryn Hill, before her breakout success with The Fugees and then as a solo artist, is the lead student-singer.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how many different people learn lessons in this movie. In what ways do the kids support one another? What do they learn from Sister Mary Clarence? How does the movie show that one person can make a significant difference? Why do you think the filmmakers decided to blend hymns, rap music, and rock? Were they successful?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 10, 1993
- On DVD or streaming : January 18, 2000
- Cast : Kathy Najimy , Maggie Smith , Whoopi Goldberg
- Director : Bill Duke
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Touchstone Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some mild language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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