The power of song
Entertaining musical numbers
Joyful Noise (2012)
Certified: PG
Duration: 118 minutes
Directed by: Todd Graff
Starring: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Dexter Darden, Courtney B. Vance, Kris Kristofferson
KRS release
The economically depressed town of Pacashau in Georgia has always found both pride and solace in its Pacashau Sacred Divinity Church choir.
This choir annually takes part in the national competition known as Joyful Noise but they always lose to choirs that have more funds.
Trouble arises when the choir director, Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson), dies from a heart attack and Pastor Dale (Courtney B. Vance) nominates nurse Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) to replace him.
Vi has always been Bernard’s understudy but her new role is questioned by G.G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton), the widow of Bernard, and also the choir’s main contributor.
For Vi the choir means more work: she has two children, one of whom suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, and her husband is serving a tour in the military.
Then there is also G.G.’s grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan) whose own mother kicked him out and whose romantic notions further complicate matters.
Meanwhile, the choir undergoes a lot of changes and the Joyful Noise competition is just around the corner.
Fans of the TV series Glee and light-hearted musical comedies will find a lot to like in this film.
The music, which includes gospel, hip hop and R’n’B, is spot on. With the gospel choir movie genre not being a large one, Joyful Noise knows its strengths and plays on them.
Highlights include a standout version of Paul McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed and Dolly Parton’s own From Here to the Moon and Back.
A medley consisting of I Want to Take You Higher, Forever, Yeah! and Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours is simply invigorating.
The film brings together two very different yet both iconic women in Ms Parton and Queen Latifah and their straight shooting talk at each other is a pleasant ingredient.
Ms Parton, one of country’s matriarchs, presents an entertaining screen figure. It is obvious she is playing herself and that she is having fun doing it.
On the other hand, Queen Latifah’s character provides the moral backbone to the film; she is constantly delivering messages to the people around her. The way she delivers the traditional song Fix Me Jesus is simply ear candy, an excellent interpretation.
Todd Graff is quite an adept hand at directing music-related movies with the excellent Bandslam (2009) already in his oeuvre.
The film’s two wildly different divas and its mix of light-hearted comedy and blissful music will certainly bring lots of smiles.