What happens when you put Dolly Parton and Queen Latifa side by side in a gospel choir movie? A significantly corny plotline… but no one could have foreseen just HOW corny. While watching them perform in the movie JOYFUL NOISE you’re either doing one of three things: bouncing in your chair to the music, mildly chuckling, or rubbing that space in between your eyes while saying “really?” to yourself.
JOYFUL NOISE tells the story of a small town church choir coping with the loss of their choir director. The directors wife, G.G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton), is under the impression that the newly open position will go to her (no, she’s not too bothered by the fact that her husband just died), but instead the church gives the position to Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifa), a no-nonsense mother of two who firmly believes that the church should only perform traditional church songs.
Meanwhile, G.G’s teenage grandson with a “bad” reputation (Jeremy Jordan) strolls into town after being kicked out of his parents place. He instantly begins to charm Vi’s daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), and joins the choir with the intentions of cranking their sound up a notch.
Parton, Latifa, good music… this movie delivers what the title says, but nothing more. It’s a perfect example of a talented cast given a poor script. The story lacks any emotional depth, resulting in a groan from the audience when heading into the musical numbers rather than enthusiasm. Granted, the songs are good, but since they severely lack any substantial emotion, they’re not nearly as moving as they could have been.
Mix in a bunch of half-witted one-liners and unoriginal b-plot characters, and you’ve got one cheesy movie. Sure, the gimmicky jokes are a little funny, but they’re not enough to save the atrociously irritating story.
If you want to watch a good gospel choir flick with a compelling plot and music so good it gives you goose bumps, skip this and rent SISTER ACT TWO. If you want to watch Dolly Parton try to get awkwardly urban with her elbows while singing a gospel version of “Forever” by Chris Brown, check out JOYFUL NOISE when it hits theaters tonight.