Fantasia Barrino's spirit-affirming, A+ life story is better than the B/B- Lifetime movie that's been made about it.
An emotional and pregnant Fantasia Barrino returns to her church in a scene from the Lifetime movie "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," premiering Saturday.
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'The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale'
When: 9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime.
"The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," which premieres at 9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime (with replays at 8 p.m. Sunday and 9 p.m. Monday), is a typical woman-triumphing-over-adversity Lifetime film.
Loosely based on her New York Times best-selling autobiography, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," the two-hour, made-for-TV movie follows Fantasia's rise from a pint-sized singing standout in her family's gospel group through her turbulent high school years -- during which she was raped, dropped out and had a baby -- on to her victory in the 2004 season of "American Idol" as a powerful and stylized singer with a most uncommon voice.
The film opens with Fantasia singing "Chain of Fools" on an "American Idol" episode, then being approached backstage by "Idol" producers, who tell her some in the public doubt she's "Idol" material because she's a high school dropout and a single mother. They tell her she can quit the show if she wants to, and there would be "no shame" in walking away. Of course, she soldiers on.
Angered by the film's opening scene, real-life "American Idol" executives told the New York Post nothing like that ever happened. There have been nothing but crickets-in-the-forest sounds from Lifetime about whether that scene is based on true events or the writers simply took dramatic license.
In a scene reminiscent of the film "The Color Purple," when prodigal daughter Shug Avery makes a cathartic, gospel-filled return to her father's church, a pregnant Fantasia returns to her grandmother's church for a tearful, spiritual healing and rebirth.
Despite her limited acting experience, Fantasia does a commendable, natural and believable job playing herself, and multitalented stage and screen veterans support her well in her inaugural film role.
The divine Loretta Devine, of the original Broadway cast of "Dreamgirls," the motion picture "Crash" and the TV show "Grey's Anatomy," does a fine turn as a stalwart and steady family matriarch, playing Fantasia's minister grandmother, Addie Collins. Viola Davis, who has won numerous stage awards including a 2001 Best Featured Actress in a Play Tony for August Wilson's "King Headley II," does a good job as Fantasia's mother, Diane Barrino. Kadeem Hardison, of "A Different World" fame, puts in a solid performance as her father, JoJo Barrino, and Jamia Simone Nash of "My Wife and Kids" is cute and credible, using her own power-packed voice in her portrayal of the young Fantasia.
Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning director, choreographer, producer and actress Debbie Allen directs the film and does a funny cameo as an "American Idol" contestant at one of the early cattle-call auditions.
Fantasia made recording history when her first single, "I Believe," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her first album, "Free Yourself," sold more than 2 million copies, and her sophomore effort, tentatively titled "Young Girl, Old Soul," is due out in the fall.
"The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale" is a good movie based on a great story. Fantasia's "American Idol" fans are sure to enjoy it, as will anyone who loves a true rags-to-riches-feel-good-American success story.
First Published: August 17, 2006, 4:00 a.m.
