So much cheese, ugh. “Joyful Noise” is wall to wall cheese from the casting of Dolly Parton opposite Queen Latifah to the awesome cheese of gospel pop music. Camp drips from every line of dialogue and every shouted exaltation in “Joyful Noise.” But is it fun cheese? That depends on how much you love gospel music.
Hey look there goes Kris Kristofferson!
In a small Georgia town the economy has taken its toll on local business. With many people out of work or under-employed the hopes of the town are channeled into the local church choir which has competed in a number of national competitions and come close to winning in the past.
Unfortunately, the latest competition was the last one for the choir director, Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson), who suffers a heart attack in mid performance. Bernard leaves behind his wife G.G (Dolly Parton) who assumes that she will become the new choir director; not only is she Bernie’s wife, she’s the church’s main benefactor.
A Fish Out of Water Story
G.G is surprised when the pastor (Courtney B. Vance) chooses Vi Rose (Queen Latifah) as the new choir director. The fact that Vi Rose is the mother of the choir’s young star Olivia (Keke Palmer) and holds a strict adherence to old school gospel standards are likely factors that gave her the edge over G.G.
G.G is not helped any by the arrival of her hoodlum grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan), a runaway with a criminal past. Randy immediately sets his sights on Olivia and their budding romance is the main subject of the middle portion of “Joyful Noise,” in between a whole lot of gospel performance.
If you LOVE Gospel Music…
You really have to love gospel to enjoy “Joyful Noise.” Take away the music and the film loses most of its appeal. This is a very by the book movie with predictable arcs and colorful if not all that compelling characters. “Joyful Noise” as a movie is really an advertisement for a soundtrack that includes a gospel take on Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and a churchified take on Usher’s “Yeah” that is outright embarrassing unless you really love gospel.
I can’t say that I am a fan of gospel music. The earnestness of gospel makes me uncomfortable and while I appreciate the authenticity of the feelings of these characters their constant sunny-ness while performing is campy but not fun camp; I don’t know what to feel about these performers. I’m happy that they’re enjoying themselves but I’d be lying if I said I was entertained by them.
One Authentic Scene
There is one scene in “Joyful Noise” that stands out for me. One truly human moment emerges from the molasses of schmaltz and good intentions that is at the heart of “Joyful Noise.” It is a scene between Queen Latifah and Keke Palmer as mother and daughter at each other’s throat. There is no one in the world that can hurt you as much as someone who loves and this is a scene about a mother and daughter out for blood.
There is an authenticity to the choice of words; the areas of attack are so very personal that only someone who truly knows you could know to go there to hurt you. It’s a very moving scene and in a better movie it would be deeply resonant. Keke Palmer and Queen Latifah are very affective actresses who deserve a better movie in which to showcase their talent.
Sadly, “Joyful Noise” isn’t a very good movie. There is a good nature to the film and a likable cuteness to everything but beyond that there isn’t much of a movie here. As I said earlier, you have to love gospel to like “Joyful Noise” and if you’re not a fan there is no reason for you to see “Joyful Noise.”