“font-family: Verdana;”>Who doesn’t want to root for a movie that is spiritually grounded and offers a positive message of unity, hope and togetherness with the backdrop of inspirational music?
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Sadly, any hope for a happy ending between Make A Joyful Noise and its audience goes out the window not long into the opening scene when the camera pans to Dolly Parton in a custom-made choir robe designed to hug and accentuate her trademark bosom.
Make A
Joyful Noise
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>attempts to be part comedy, part family drama and part musical and manages to be an injustice to all three genres.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In the spirit of The Fighting Temptations, conflict within the choir of the community church serve as the driving force behind a film that is supposed to feed the soul by illustrating the healing power of faith, forgiveness and family through song.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>But the lack of depth, tragically mix-matched performances, and an overall lack of knowledge of the gospel genre works against writer/director Todd Graff from the very beginning.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Even the all-star leading-lady tag team of Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton can’t offset the flaws that prove fatal for this film.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Latifah is Vi Rose Hill, a working mother struggling to keep her household together. Parton is G.G., the resident rich lady of Pacashau, Georgia. The entire town has fallen upon hard times (which led Vi Rose’s husband to return to the military) and they are leaning on the possibility of being named choir champions to give the community hope.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The arrival of G.G.’s rebellious, big city grandson Randy compels the choir to consider a more contemporary performance style while wooing Vi Rose’s daughter, lead soloist Olivia (KeKe Palmer). But his bright ideas are in direct opposition with choir director Vi Rose’s traditional style of classic hymns and gospel tunes.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Parton’s character is essentially the classic Dolly fans have come to love over the years. Latifah is stretched to illustrate the heartaches of pulling a family – and a community, thanks to her responsibilities with the choir – up from the ashes. All the while she is attempting to encourage herself and lean on faith to carry her through her own circumstances.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>To the film’s credit, there is a valiant attempt to present and promote diversity in the music, the cast and the community. Black, white, Latino and Asians are seen living – and worshipping – together and relying on each other for support and fellowship.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>But all else is lost. Predictable plot twists, slow-moving climactic scenes and an awkwardly meshed supporting cast are major contributors to the downfall of the film. The biggest failure of the film beyond the bad slapstick and formulaic failed sit-com comic relief was the catastrophic combination of music.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Very little of the drawn out full-length performances were actually gospel. It’s understandable that the film create a bridge with viewers by infusing mainstream music with inspirational tunes. But unlike the title suggests, much of the music featured is secular.Â
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Reconfiguring mainstream hits to cater to the message of gospel music is not an uncommon phenomenon, but the selection of songs remixed for religious purposes just didn’t make any sense. And the movie’s biggest musical failing was found in the finale when Usher’s “Yeah” – the 2007 pop hit about a one-night stand – was modified for the choir as they attempted to uplift, inspire and capture the crown.
Joyful
Noise
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>offers movie-by-numbers sensory overload in a failed attempt at crowd pleaser. Remnants of emotion and chemistry between Latifah and Parton will have viewers wondering what could have been had the team behind the film properly mixed the formula.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Make a Joyful Noise opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, January 13. The film is rated PG with a running time of 118 minutes.
