Make a joyful noise unto the LORD… ~ Psalm 100:1 KJV

We are encouraged to praise the Lord with song and music and the movie “Joyful Noise” delivers!

What voices! Well, you can’t go wrong with leading ladies like Queen Latifah (Vi Rose Hill) and Dolly Parton (G.G. Sparrow). Then add the young talents of Keke Palmer (Olivia Hill) and Jeremy Jordan (Randy Garrity) and you have a high-spirited, rousing musical-comedy.

When the choir director, Bernard Sparrow, (played by Kris Kristofferson) suddenly dies of a heart attack during the regional finals of the “Joyful Noise” competition and Vi Rose is selected to replace him over G.G. (who’s also the main financial supporter of the church), there’s a clashing of opinions.

G.G.’s grandson, Randy comes to visit and is encouraged to join the choir by Vi Rose’s daughter, Olivia, and he tries to modernize the song selections and arrangements to the disapproval of Vi Rose and the pastor (Courtney B. Vance).

Jesse L. Martin plays Vi Rose’s husband who’s serving in the Army leaving Vi Rose to raise Olivia and autistic son (Dexter Darden) by herself. I would have like to seen him join the choir at least for one number since Martin has a great voice (as seen in the film version of “Rent”).

Dolly Parton & Queen Latifah in Joyful Noise from Warner Bros.

It delivers messages of trust, love, faith, hope and perseverance with great toe-tapping music.

It’s got a PG-13 rating which at first makes you wonder why that rating on a seemingly Christian movie, but there’s a one-night stand scene that I’d have written differently. And way too much cleavage, but, then again, it’s Dolly Parton. She wears a fitted choir robe and it’s obvious she’s had a few face lifts and a few botox shots to her lips and all that is made fun of in the movie. (A fitted choir robe – that’s a first!)

A note of trivia: This is Dolly Parton’s first big-screen role in 20 years!

Because of the one-night stand scene I have to give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Great Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Award-Winning Christian Author

Check out Giselle’s award-winning Christian novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century a historical novel about the early church check it out! $1 from the sale of each book – no matter what format, benefits StreetLight Phoenix to help eradicate child sex slavery. www.giselleaguiar.com/novel1

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