This Weekend We Will Hear A Little "Joyful Noise"

Joyful Noise (2012)
Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan

Directed by Todd Graff

The Story:

A small town church choir wants to attend a national competition, but year after year, they get sent home early.  Now with Vi (Latifah) instituted as the new choir master at the helm, there's a chance for a change.  Yet even with her daughter Olivia's (Palmer) beautiful voice, it seems like the choir is stuck in the same old rut.  However, a rebel (Jordan) rolls into town, related to town matriarch G.G. Sparrow (Parton) and he begins to shake things up, and suddenly, the choir may have the spark they've been missing.  Will the seize the day, and glorify the Lord with their songs, or will everything settle back to the way it's always been?

This movie had sure fire hit on it when the trailer rolled.

Great music. Funny. Emotional conflicts.

So what went wrong?

The movie did provide all of that, and then some.

And perhaps, that was the problem. 

Let's Pray This Review Isn't Too Harsh

This was another case of a movie that had TOO MUCH story that it decided it wanted to tell, and it ballooned to 2 hours to try and tell it all.

Let's count the things they are trying to get across:

Conservative Music Approach Versus Contemporary.
Mother vs. Daughter Coming of Age Tale.
Good Girl meets Bad Boy.
Good Girl wants to see Father That Left Them.
Brother Has Disability...Hates God.
Bad Boy Disliked By Everyone.
Choir Master vs. Choir Master.
Single Mom Making It Happen.

Uh Oh... It Sounds Like We're Getting A Lousy Grade...

I'm sure I'm missing a few things, and that's just the main stars.  There's a few tidbits thrown to the supporting characters as well.

Drop 30 minutes, and half the subplots, this movie would have been killer.

As it is, it's not terrible.

How's that for barely praise?

:)

The movie is carried mostly on Latifah's shoulders, and she is used to trying to carry all of her movies as best she can.  Luckily, she's a likable actress and that helps win an audience over.

The singing is beautiful, and that's half the battle, that is why the called the movie Joyful Noise after all. ;)

Final Grade: C+/B- range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  I've seen it twice now, and while I've enjoyed it, I am not in any hurry to rush out and pick this one up.

Sometimes the Best Advice is Simply "Straight Talk"

Get down off the cross honey, somebody needs the wood!

The Story:

Shirlee Kenyon (Dolly Parton) is tired of her small-town life and boyfriend (Michael Madsen) so she takes off to Chicago to start over.  Looking for employment at a radio station, she accidentally winds up on the air giving callers advice.  Her small-town ways and folksy charm are an instant hit, and the station hires her.  However, they want to call her "Dr." Shirlee.  She reluctantly agrees, but when a local reporter (James Woods) begins to investigate her credentials, he finds himself falling for the irresistible Shirlee.

Who said James Woods couldn't play the leading man in a romantic comedy?  Look no further than here for proof!  Maybe not any longer, but once upon a time...

Okay, this movie is simply cute and charming, with capital "c's" for both.

Dolly Parton basically plays herself, because in all of my years seeing her on television and movies, this is how she comes across.

It's a natural fit, and that's why over 20 years later, this movie doesn't seem the least bit dated.

I hadn't seen this one in ages, so it was a nice pleasant trip down memory lane.

Recommended, especially if you haven't ever seen it, or it's been the better part of 20 years since you last watched.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do believe I own it, it's just been quite sometime since it's been played.  Nice to see it once again, hopefully I don't wait 20 more years to let it play.