COLUMN: Don’t judge ‘Joyful Noise’ by its trailer
“Joyful Noise” wasn’t as bad as I thought; in fact, it was actually quite good.
I tried to go into the theater with an open mind, but I had so many reservations, I never thought I’d find myself genuinely entertained.
After a choir director dies, following the victory of his choir in a local competition, the pastor of the church chooses Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) to replace him. This comes as a soft blow to G.G. Sparrow (Dolly Parton), the old choir director’s wife who assumed she’d be the one to take over, especially as the choir prepares for the regional competition.
Hill tries to keep the choir singing traditional numbers, but that task becomes increasingly difficult when G.G.’s grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan) comes to town, full of new singing ideas. He is instantly attracted to Vi Rose’s daughter Olivia (Keke Palmer) when he sees her perform a solo with the choir.
Olivia’s brother Walter (Dexter Darden) quickly bonds with Randy, as Randy is the only person outside the Hill family who easily accepts Walter and his Asperger’s syndrome. Since Randy is genuine in his interactions with Walter, Vi Rose’s heart is softened, even though she holds reservations about Randy and Olivia.
Randy joins the choir, and the group begins practicing for regional and national competitions. There are plenty of obstacles that stand in the way of the choir, but with determination they carry on the story of “Joyful Noise.”
“Joyful Noise” was a fun movie. It was well paced and nothing seemed to be rushed. Sufficient detail was given for all the situations and scenarios to keep the audience involved. There was a great balance between all the scenes and characters.
Don’t judge the movie based on the trailer. The trailer is deceptive in giving a good overview of what the movie will be. Based on the trailer alone, I assumed “Joyful Noise” would be a shallow film filled with actors and aged singers trying to display their singing talents one more time.
Fortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, I prefer the situations when the trailer doesn’t give away all the plot points.
The story was predictable, which did bring the movie down slightly, but it’s still refreshing enough to easily let go of any hesitations.
One of my favorite parts about the movie, and one of the reasons “Joyful Noise” got the grade I gave it, was because all the characters learned and grew in multiple aspects of their lives. Character development is crucial in all the great movies, and this movie did not disappoint.
I enjoyed the depth the movie went into with Walter’s Asperger’s syndrome. It’s challenging for some people to know how to accept and associate with people different from themselves, and “Joyful Noise” effectively, although subconsciously, teaches many lessons on how to have those associations.
Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton were hilarious. They had plenty of fun spats, including one physical fight that is almost worth half the ticket price.
Parton was spunky, which wasn’t a surprise. Known for her singing abilities, she is given plenty of chances to showcase her talent without dominating or overwhelming the movie with her songs.
Latifah, known for “Taxi” and “Bringing Down the House,” is fantastic as a single mother trying to lead her family, her job and her choir. She brings so many elements to the table that demonstrate every aspect of her acting abilities.
Palmer, who starred in “Akeelah and the Bee,” does a great job playing a daughter struggling to accept herself as she is while dealing with a disabled brother and separated parents. Palmer’s been singing since she was a child, which was refreshing, knowing she was the one hitting the notes.
Jordan makes his film debut in “Joyful Noise,” but he is not new to acting. He has had a number of roles in plays, including Jack Kelly in the Paper Mill Playhouse version of Disney’s “Newsies,” Tony in “West Side Story” on Broadway, and will soon play Clyde Barrow in the Broadway production of “Bonnie and Clyde.” Obviously he was recruited for his talent, and he certainly delivers.
As can be expected, the music is one of the key parts of the movie, and it was done well. There was a handful of rousing and inspirational gospel songs and a fun blend of pop music from artists such as Michael Jackson, Sly and the Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder. Interestingly enough, Dolly Parton wrote a few original songs for the movie. The climactic number alone makes the movie worth every dollar.
“Joyful Noise” was music to my ears.
— Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He enjoys watching all sorts of movies. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu.