Joyful Noise - 2012

Alcon Entertainment, Farrell Paura Productions, Gospel Truth Pictures

Directed by Todd Graff

Cast:

• Vi Rise Hill – Queen Latifah
• G. G. Sparrow – Dolly Parton
• Olivia Hill – Keke Palmer
• Randy Garrity – Jeremy Jordan
• Walter Hill – Dexter Darden
• Pastor Dale – Courtney B. Vance
• Marcus Hill – Jesse L. Martin
• Bernard Sparrow – Kris Kristofferson

Story: A small town church choir competes every year in the “Joyful Noise” national choir competition. After the loss of their director, Pastor Dale must choose a new leader. The committee chooses, Vi Rose Hill, the assistant director, over G. G. Sparrow, the director's widow and the major supporter of the church. Vi Rose is a single mother, raising two teenagers alone, and she is very rigid and stubborn person. Olivia, her daughter, is a good girl who is not allowed to date at 16 years old and is attracted to G. G.'s grandson. G. G. is a member of the choir and wants to introduce more modern music and styles to the choir, and when her grandson, Randy, comes to live with her, she hopes his involvement will help to sway the tide in her direction. But Vi Rose and Pastor Dale are unconvinced, and G. G., Randy, Olivia, and the rest of the choir must overcome many hurdles to get Vi Rose to see the light.

Review: A return to a Great Family film without cartoons! Lots of great music, incredibly beautiful scenery, exceptional performances, and that's all in the first five minutes! Seriously, a movie like this comes along once every couple of years, and the words “feel good” are usually attached to the comments made by the critics. If you can't feel good after seeing this, you need to have someone check your pulse and respiration. Queen Latifah, the former rapper who has come far beyond her humble beginning, is wonderful as Vi Rose Hill, a mother trying to raise two children in this scary world. Dolly Parton shines out as the old country woman who has seen all the changes, lost her husband of many years, and is still keeping the faith. Her charm shines through in every scene she is in, and that means you get a lot of down home country charm. Add in the veteran actors, Courtney B. Vance as the pragmatic pastor of this small town flock, and Jessie L. Martin as the absent husband of Vi Rose, trying to support his family in a troubled economy. Newcomers Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan are terrific as the teens who are trying to figure out their place and what to do about the attraction they feel. The plot is fresh, the dialog fun, and the film keeps your interest without once having to shoot anyone or blow up anything. Rated PG-13 (?) for a supposedly sexual reference, I personally think every member of the family will be tapping their toes and singing along where they can. Collectible, well, too soon to tell, but I have a copy.