Written And Directed by Todd Graff
G.G. (to Vi): "Who cares if I've had a few little nips and tucks? God didn't make plastic surgeons so they could starve!"
My initial thoughts upon deciding to watch this film last night was this: did I really need or want to watch a Christian Pitch Perfect? It wouldn't be my usual bag but I went with it nonetheless.
You've got a Southern town of Pacashau, Georgia. You've got two very different women who naturally clash and then there's the whole choir themselves. Anyways, back to the women.
Whoever decided to cast Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah as sparring partners deserves a raise. I'm stating the obvious here but they're excellent to watch on-screen. A delightful spiky chemistry between two very different women, but both of whom had their heart in the right place.
Dolly Parton played G.G Sparrow. She was the wife of the choir director, Bernard (Kris Kristofferson). Bernard died at the start of the movie and G.G soon found herself looking after her wayward grandson Randy Garritty (Jeremy Jordan). She also had to accept a new choir director.
This was where Queen Latifah came into things. She played the more prim and proper Vi Rose Hill. Vi had two teenage children named Olivia (Keke Palmer) and Walter (Dexter Darden). Both Olivia and Walter would get involved with Randy. Olivia romantically and Walter in a more social context. Vi also had an estranged husband named Marcus (Jesse L. Martin).
Anyways the main plot of this movie was the choir constantly losing, clashes between both Vi and G.G. before they managed to find some common ground. There's a slew of fun characters like Courtney B. Vance's apathetic Pastor Dale and choir choreographer, Earla Hughes (Angela Grovey). There's a certain plotline with her that's really funny and was resolved with a happy ending.
- Other actors who appeared include Shameik Moore, Chloe Bailey and Karen Peck.
- I'm surprised to learn that this was Dolly Parton's last film. She wrote songs for the film.
- Standout music: Not Enough, Man In The Mirror, I'm In Luv With A Stripper, Higher Medley and He's Everything.
- Chronology: 2010s, Pacashau in Georgia with a trip to Los Angeles.
Joyful Noise doesn't have the best of scripts but it's an engaging enough film with lively performances from both Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. The music numbers aren't bad either.
Rating: 6 out of 10
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