Joyful Noise (DVD REVIEW)
Joyful Noise
DVD
Review by Kam Williams
DVD Features Dolly and Latifah in Gospel-Driven
Musical Drama
When
choir director Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson) passes away unexpectedly,
Pastor Dale (Courtney B. Vance) finds himself on the horns of a dilemma. Should
he promote the dearly-departed deacon’s assistant, Vi Rose Hill (Queen
Latifah), or award the position to his grieving widow, G.G. (Dolly Parton)?
After
agonizing over the decision, the rev settles on the former, potentially risking
the survival of Sacred Divinity, since the well-to-do Sparrow family is the
cash-strapped Church’s major benefactor. By comparison, life’s a struggle for
Vi Rose and most of the other citizens of Pacashau,
Georgia. The
economic recession has turned the once-thriving town into a decaying metropolis
marked by foreclosure signs, a soup kitchen packed with the homeless, and a
business district dotted with vacant storefronts.
G.G.’s
grudgingly ratifying the appointment of Vi Rose is the answer to the prayers of
Pastor Dale who is desperate to avoid creating a rift in his tight-knit
congregation. For, he hopes that the choir might restore a measure of pride to
the beleaguered Pacashau community by prevailing at the upcoming National Gospel
Competition.
That
unlikely feat is the raison d’etre of Joyful Noise, a faith-based mix of
morality play and musical numbers. The soulful singing performances are the
film’s forte, from Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson’s heartfelt duet on
“From Here to the Moon and Back” to Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan’s
equally-evocative interpretation of “Maybe I’m Amazed” to Ivan Kelley, Jr.’s
spirited rendition of “That’s the Way God Planned It.”
As
for the pat plotline, the point of departure finds Vi Rose trying to raise two
teenagers alone because her husband (Jesse L. Martin) abandoned the family for
the military on account of the lack of local jobs. Their son, Walter (Dexter
Darden), is in need of help handling his Asperger’s Syndrome while boy-crazy
daughter, Olivia (Palmer), sure could use a more appropriate suitor than the
thug (Paul Woolfolk) who’s been courting her lately.
Everything
changes the day G.G.’s Prodigal Grandson Randy (Jordan) rolls back into town
from New York City
unexpectedly. Although a little rough around the edges, the misunderstood young
man is just the answer for everybody’s malady.
First,
he falls in love with Olivia at first sight. Then he serves as a surrogate big
brother to Walter. And when he joins the choir, it’s only a matter of time
before he mends the fences between Vi Rose and his granny on the road to the
finals at the Joyful Noise contest in Los
Angeles.
A
modern parable that’s fun for the whole family with an uplifting message about
the power of cooperation. Can I get an Amen?
Very Good
(2.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity and a sexual reference.
Running time: 118
minutes
Distributor: Warner
Home Entertainment Group
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