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Joyful Noise (film)

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Joyful Noise
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTodd Graff
Written byTodd Graff
Produced byBroderick Johnson
Andrew Kosove
Michael Nathanson
Joseph Farrell
Catherine Paura
StarringQueen Latifah
Dolly Parton
Keke Palmer
Jeremy Jordan
CinematographyDavid Boyd
Edited byKathryn Himoff
Music byMervyn Warren
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • January 13, 2012 (2012-01-13)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[1]
Box office$30,981,384[2]

Joyful Noise is a 2012 musical film, starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Courtney B. Vance, and introducing Jeremy Jordan. It was written and directed by Todd Graff, with gospel-infused music by Mervyn Warren. The film was released in U.S. theaters on January 13, 2012. In the film, two strong-minded women are forced to cooperate when budget cuts threaten to shut down a small-town choir.[3]

Plot

After the untimely death of a small-town church choir director (Kris Kristofferson) in Georgia, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah), a no-nonsense mother raising two teens alone, takes control of the choir using the traditional Gospel style that their Pastor Dale (Courtney B. Vance) approves of. However, the director's widow, G. G. Sparrow (Parton), the main benefactor to the church, believes she should have been given the position. As in previous years, the choir reaches the regional finals of the national amateur "Joyful Noise" competition, only to be disappointed when a rival choir beats them. Tough times in the town have led to budget problems that threaten to close down the choir, at the same time as the town needs the choir's inspiring music more than ever.

Vi Rose has a son, Walter (Dexter Darden), who has Asperger syndrome, and a talented, pretty and ready-to-date daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer). But not ready to date under her mothers household rules. G. G. has recently begun caring for her rebellious, drifter grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan). A romance blossoms between Olivia and Randy, which is strongly opposed by Vi Rose. Olivia also has a rival suitor, Manny (Paul Woolfolk). At Randy's urging, G. G., Olivia and most of the choir come to believe that some more contemporary arrangements (prepared by Randy) would be more successful for the choir. It also turns out that the choir has a chance at the national finals of the competition when the rival choir is found to have cheated by hiring professionals. But the pastor says that the church will not sponsor the choir unless they continue to use their reverent, traditional style.

Vi Rose's husband, Marcus (Jesse L. Martin), enlisted in the army after having trouble finding work at home, but his prolonged absence has saddened his family and causes additional tension between Vi Rose and Olivia. Meanwhile, a vivacious member of the choir who choreographs their routines, Earla (Angela Grovey), after a long dry stretch, finds passion first with Mr. Hsu (Francis Jue), whose weak heart gives way by morning, and later with Justin (Roy Huang). The town's tough times forces another choir member, Caleb (Andy Karl), and his family out of business. Vi Rose and G. G. come to blows in a confrontation, Olivia's frustration with her mother boils over, and G. G. threatens Pastor Dale with disendowing the church if the choir is not allowed to compete in the finals with the new arrangements.

During the movie Randy befriends Walter and begins to teach him how to play the piano. One day, while at the waterfall Randy hangs out as Manny arrives. Randy and Manny begin to fight over Olivia ending with Walter giving Manny a bloody nose. When returning home Walter brags to Vi Rose about the fight. Angered by the news, she throws out Randy and tells him to leave her family alone.

The choir travels to Los Angeles for the final, feeling very unsettled. Vi Rose and Olivia have a fight and Vi Rose slaps Olivia. Tough competition presents itself in the form of a choir made up of cute pre-teens, with a charismatic young soloist (Ivan Kelley Jr.). But Vi Rose, G. G., Olivia and Randy pull the choir together and they give a rousing performance, using the new arrangements and choreography, capturing first place. The choir returns to town in triumph, Marcus comes home to his family, Vi Rose tacitly gives in to the inevitable relationship between Olivia and Randy, and all ends happily. Earla and Justin get married and on the same day Marcus comes back.

Cast

  • Queen Latifah as Vi Rose Hill
  • Dolly Parton as G. G. Sparrow
  • Keke Palmer as Olivia Hill, Vi's daughter and Randy's love interest
  • Jeremy Jordan as Randy Garrity, Sparrow's grandson and Olivia's love
  • Dexter Darden as Walter Hill, Vi's son
  • Courtney B. Vance as Pastor Dale
  • Kris Kristofferson as Bernard Sparrow, G. G's late husband
  • Angela Grovey as Earla, the choir's choreographer
  • Paul Woolfolk as Manny, a young guitarist with an interest in Olivia
  • Francis Jue as Ang Hsu, a choir member who is attracted to Earla
  • Jesse L. Martin as Marcus Hill, Vi Rose's estranged husband
  • Andy Karl as Caleb, a choir member whose family loses its business
  • Dequina Moore as Devonne, a talkative choir member
  • Roy Huang as Justin, Earla's second lover
  • Judd Lormand as Officer Darrel Lino
  • Ivan Kelley Jr. as the soloist of the Our Lady of Perpetual Tears choir
  • Kirk Franklin as Baylor Sykes, the choir leader for a rival church
  • Karen Peck as competition host, lead singer "Mighty High"

Production

Joyful Noise began filming in February 2011, in locations throughout Georgia, such as Atlanta, Decatur, Newnan, Dallas, Conyers, Peachtree City, and historic Howard's Restaurant in Smyrna.[4] The movie finished filming in early April 2011.[citation needed]

Reception

Joyful Noise has received generally negative reviews from critics. As of 13 February 2012, the film held an approval rating of 33% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus saying "Joyful Noise's musical numbers are solidly entertaining, and it benefits from Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton's sizable chemistry; unfortunately, they aren't enough to make up for the rest of the film."[5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times described the film as "an ungainly assembly of parts that don't fit, and the strange thing is that it makes no particular effort to please its target audience, which would seem to be lovers of gospel choirs."[6] Metacritic, however said the film received mixed or average reviews and gave the film a 44% out of 100.[7] Christy Lemire of The Boston Globe felt that "if some incarnation of Glee were to be developed for the Christian Broadcasting Network, it would probably look a lot like Joyful Noise.[8] Peter Debruge of Variety claims that "despite the sheer volume of music on offer, very little of it feels authentic – or especially inspiring."[9] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter felt that everyone in the film "is so fundamentally decent and goody-goody that no real tension or unresolvable conflicts ever surface."[10]

Some critics found positive things to say about the film. Richard Corliss of Time magazine stated that "the critic in me can authoritatively declare that the film is crap. The fan in me sent his shirt to the dry cleaners for tear removal."[11] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly felt that "the movie's musical numbers are catchy and rollicking and, in their bright sunshiny way, rather soulful."[12] Rex Reed of The New York Observer stated, "Don't expect high art, and you will leave Joyful Noise smiling to the beat."[13]

Box Office

The movie opened at #4 at the weekend box office, grossing $11.2 million on its opening weekend. It screened in 2,735 theaters and has grossed $30,932,113 to date.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kaufman, Amy (January 12, 2012). "Movie Projector: 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Contraband' fight for No. 1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  2. ^ "Joyful Noise (2012)". Box Office Mojo. 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  3. ^ "Dolly Parton Returns to Film, Stars with Queen Latifah", Gossip Cop, August 21, 2010, Retrieved December 7, 2011
  4. ^ Bugg, Daniel (2011-02-15). "Hollywood coming to Smyrna - Smyrna-Vinings, GA Patch". Smyrna.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  5. ^ "Joyful Noise". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 11, 2012). "Joyful Noise". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  7. ^ "Joyful Noise Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  8. ^ Lemire, Christy (January 10, 2012). "Review: 'Joyful Noise' never really sings". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  9. ^ Debruge, Peter (January 5, 2012). "Variety reviews The Joyful Noise". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Todd (January 5, 2012). "Joyful Noise: Film review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  11. ^ Corliss, Richard (January 12, 2012). "Joyful Noise: Is it Awfully Nice or Just Plain Awful?". Time. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  12. ^ Geiberman, Owen (January 12, 2012). "Movie Review: Joyful Noise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  13. ^ Reed, Rex. "Joyful Noise Has Them Singin' for the Weekend". The New York Observer. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  14. ^ boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=joyfulnoise.htm
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