Preacher's Kid

Writer-director Stan Foster's coming-of-age story about the daughter of a religious leader begins with potential promise, but squanders it by emphasizing judgment over understanding. Angie King (former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett) lives with her widowed father, the strict Bishop King (Gregory Alan Williams). An aspiring pop singer, Angie participates in church choir, attends Bible study, and rarely has the opportunity for secular activities. Wynton (Sharif Atkins), the church's soft-spoken choir director, shares Angie's interest in musical theater, but she would rather date a gospel-pop star like the muscular Devlin (R&B vocalist Durrell “Tank” Babbs), who hits Atlanta to headline the unsubtly titled traveling show Daddy, Can I Come Back Home. After Angie auditions and lands a part as an understudy, she has a falling out with her father and goes on the road with the production. Angie hopes the experience will bring her closer to Devlin, but he smokes pot, bosses her around, hits her, and cavorts with Desiree (Tammy Townsend), the play's female lead. No one will be surprised to learn that Daddy was right all along, and there's no place like home. While the cast serves up some fine singing, the overabundant moralizing spoils the fun. An optional purchase, at best. (K. Fennessy)