Too much of everything

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Joyful Noise (2012): Dir: Todd Graff / Cast: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Kris Kristofferson: The joyful noise in question is not the sound of a great movie, but the sound of viewers snoring through one as mediocre as this one. It regards the uniting of talents and abilities as a Church choir competes in an annual contest but the pastor suddenly dies in the opening practice. Then we are left with two women bickering back and forth while their children unite in a petty romance. The story here is thin, formula and predictable with high end musical numbers that seem to celebrate the pop charts of yesterday as oppose to praising God. It is great to see Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton share the same space especially since their music genres are complete opposites. Latifah is left as choir director, a position that Parton felt that she should be given. Latifah is old school while Parton is open minded even when it comes to insults regarding plastic surgery. Jeremy Jordan plays Parton's grandson who lands on her door step after some apparent trouble back home. Keke Palmer plays Latifah's daughter who desires adulthood and will be romanced by Jordan. Their romance has all the quality of snoring during a Church sermon and viewers likely could care less. Kris Kristofferson appears in the flashbacks as Parton's late husband. We understand through its two talented leads that merging talents and personalities results in a choir pleasing to God, but despite its uplifting qualities, the only joyful noise I heard was the hurried rush of footsteps towards the theatre exit. Score: 5 / 10

Joyful Noise is one of those movies you should dismiss as feel-good corn, but because of the great music and endearing performances of the leads you end up enjoying.Vi-Rose (Queen Latifah) becomes the new leader of a gospel choir when GG's (Dolly Parton) husband dies. The rivalry between the two women forms the main storyline. Vi's daughter Olivia (Keke Palmer) falls in love with GG's wayward grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan.) All of them are involved in the choir and must work together if they are to win a major choral competition and bolster the morale of their small town, a community hit by the economic meltdown.Sound predictable? It is. But it's also a lot of fun. Queen Latifah is authentic and believable as a single mother trying to hold it together. Parton delivers some killer lines ("God didn't make plastic surgeons so they could starve"). Palmer gives a resonant performance of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror, and Jordan is likable, handsome and has a strong voice.

OK so I'm giving this film a 6 based soley on its feel good factor. It Would be impossible to hate a film starring both Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, who are extremely likable comedy actresses. In Basically a Glee/Sister Act mash up that features a choir competing at sectionals and regionals, being disappointed at a loss and then finding a second chance that leads to a happily ever after scene, (deep breath) its the music that steals the show. The Gospel songs really do uplift and get your feet tapping and after watching this movie I was tempted to download "Oh Happy Days" and go on a peace mission. Anyway despite its Musical saving grace, the film just feels like a mish-mash of scenes from various scripts from other films all blended into one. There was no real need for a strange story involving one of the minor characters killing a man after sleeping with him, and whilst staying with couples, the main love story involving the two young leads was unconvincing and the major cheesy downside to the film. In Summary, Going into watching the film i was expecting a cat fight like battle for control of the choir from Parton and Latifah but was instead treated to several bland romance/family stories sandwiched in between some truly great musical moments and and an occasional chuckle worthy one liner. Worth a look if you want your day brightened, but avoided if you hate the smell of cheese.

One of the many good things about this film was that the race card was totally eliminated. It dealt with a rural choir in Georgia made up of all groups. Yes, the Queen Latifah role and Dolly Parton counter-part don't like each other, but race isn't the culprit here.This is basically the story of interpersonal relationships among the people in the choir. We have an assortment of characters we can all identify with- Parton's grandson, constantly in trouble, rebellious and yet having a good heart. Latifah, the strict mother covering the fact that her husband reenlisted in the army so as to get away from her, her rebellious, precocious daughter, who wants to set her mother straight. The scene where mom and daughter have it out was memorable.We have the general competition among choir groups for an award out in Los Angeles.The singing is great, the characters are lively and we can identify with what we're seeing. A beautiful film.