The Mirror Has Two Faces

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Barbra Streisand
's The Mirror Has Two Faces was the ultimate vanity trip as far as movies go, so it's surprising that she only makes her presence felt on two tracks on the film's soundtrack. Most of the album is a hodgepodge of songs performed in the movie, ranging from a new
Richard Marx
song and
David Sanborn
's slick version of "Try a Little Tenderness" to
Luciano Pavarotti
singing
Puccini
's Nessun Dorma. Although all of this music is fine, it doesn't quite hold together as a consistent album, especially when the two new
Streisand
songs are the only reason most people will be purchasing the album. And, while they aren't bad, neither "All of My Life" or the
Barbra
and
Bryan Adams
duet "The Power Inside of Me" are particularly distinguished; the latter becomes stronger upon each play, while the former is merely pleasant. Both songs are essential for any
Streisand
completist, but it's hard not to feel somewhat cheated by the album's inconsistency.