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.

Footloose - 2011

Paramount Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Dylan Sellers Productions

Directed by Craig Brewer

Cast:

• Ren MacCormick – Kenny Wormwald
• Ariel Moore – Julianne Hough
• Rev. Shaw Moore – Dennis Quaid
• Vi Moore – Andie MacDowell
• Willard – Miles Teller
• Wes Warnicker - Ray McKinnon
• Lulu – Kim Dickens
• Chuck Cranston – Patrick John Flueger
• Rusty – Ziah Colon

Story:This is an homage to the classic 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, and Dianne Weist. The story hasn't changed. A tragic accident takes the lives of five teenagers coming home from a senior dance, one of them the minister's son. The small southern Presbyterian town is so shocked and appalled it outlaws dancing and other types of parties, and places curfews in effect in an effort to protect the teens from themselves. Three years later, Ren MacCormick moves to the town after losing his mother to leukemia, and quickly learns about the restrictions. His Uncle Wes is owns a used car lot in the town, and realizes his nephew will need an advocate in order to get along with the local sheriff and minister. Ren makes friends quickly, but he soon learns the minister's daughter is heading down a dangerous path with an older race car driver, Chuck Cranston. Ren works to pass a petition around town to withdraw the ordinance banning dancing, and while he does not succeed, he manages to get permission to hold a senior dance in a local cotton mill adjacent to the town.

Review: Footloose is about more than dancing, although Kenny Wormwald certainly can do that. Footloose is a classic tale of tragedy and redemption, about the differences between teens and adults, about the way we see ourselves and others. Craig Brewer has managed to update this classic film without losing one iota of the feel of the original. Kenny Wormwald is excellent as Ren, the out of town boy thrust into the small country town environment. Julianne Hough plays the minister's daughter with a flair that shows some insight into the dynamics of a family dealing with the loss of a child. Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell were perfect choices for the minister and his wife, and Quaid adds a different perspective to the role than Lithgow's original portrayal. Ray McKinnon gives us a new look at his ability to adapt his normally more aggressive character acting to a kinder, gentler advocate, and Kim Dickens provides just the right touch as the aunt. Very appealing were the characters of Willard and Rusty, played by newcomers Miles Teller and Ziah Colon. Filmed in the small town of Acworth, Georgia, the photography and cinematography are excellent. Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content, and some violence and drug use, this is a film, with correct parental supervision, should be viewable by the entire family.

The Blues Brothers - 1980

Universal Pictures

Directed by John Landis

Cast:

• ”Joliet Jake” Blues – John Belushi
• Elwood Blues – Dan Ackroyd
• Curtis – Cab Calloway
• Reverend Cleophus James – James Brown
• Ray – Ray Charles
• Mrs. Murphy – Aretha Franklin
• Mystery Woman – Carrie Fisher
• Sister Mary Stigmata (The Penguin) – Kathleen Freeman

Story: “Joliet Jake” Blues is getting out of Joliet prison. His brother, Elwood, is there to pick him up in a used Mt. Prospect police cruiser. Elwood drives him to the orphanage where they were both raised to visit “The Penguin” aka Sister Mary Stigmata, who informs them the orphanage will close unless she has $5,000.00 to pay for tax assessment. The church is not interested in keeping the orphanage open, but when Jake offers to come up with the money, The Penguin refuses to accept what she knows will be stolen money. They meet Curtis, the caretaker who lives it the basement and taught the boys to play music. He tells Jake to get straight, to get to church, so the brothers go to the church of the Reverend Cleophus James, where Jake receives a vision. From that moment on, the brothers are on a mission from God to put their band back together, raise the money to save the orphanage, and redeem themselves while evading the police, the Illinois Nazi party, an irate country band, and a jilted fiance of Jake's.

Review: One of the most hilarious movies to ever come out of a Saturday Night Live skit. Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi lead us from one ridiculous situation to another as they proceed on their mission from God. James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, and the Blues Brothers Band fill your ears with some of the greatest rhythm and blues hits of the 50's and 60's, complete with choreography and dance that is sure to please. The stunts are amazing, the acting excellent, and the plot is cohesive and well thought out, as ridiculous as it is. This is a classic film for the entire family, even though there is some profanity, a few off color jokes, and a lot of overt violence that is all played for laughs. Probably more for the 13 and older set, but frankly, a fun film that is too ridiculous to miss. A definite collector's item as one of the top live action comedies of all time.