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Review

Jenifer Lewis stars as Jackie Washington, a forgotten Diva that most people think is better off forgotten in this riotious new mockumentary directed by Robert Townsend (Holiday Heart.) Tim Curry acts as the host on this tour of Jackie's comeback and Whoopi Goldberg is Jackie's sister Ethyl Washington Rue Owens, a nurse who feels that Jackie stole everything from her. Jackie's comeback is marred by descriptions of her inter-personal relationships that are less than fabulous. Jackie had four husbands, none of whom fathered her two children Antandra and Shaniqua. She stabbed her first husband in the head with an Afro pick, we don't mention the second, the third was gay and the fourth was annulled. Liza fondly remembers her attendance at a party when her Oscar went missing, Bette can't seem to remember who she was and Diahann Carroll was viscious! The film takes us right up the moment when Jackie is supposed to appear on stage in front of her "adoring fans".

The cameos are totally fabulous, the jokes right on target and the story, while not completely fresh has enough surprises to elicit laughs. While everyone slanders Jackie as a self-absorbed diva who cared about her career, her hair, her make-up and her daughters - in that order, her music was quite wonderful. There are a few nice soul songs in the style of the sixties, some of which are completely wacked out, some feel quite real. A gay friendly, campy comedy for the whole family.