Review: 'Joyful Noise' Offers Campy Musical Fun

By Michael Lopez

Every now and then we come across a guilty pleasure on the big screen. A movie that seems so outrageously silly, it's actually fun to watch. And that certainly is the case with this weekend's release, Joyful Noise.

If you're looking for originality or inspired dialogue, you're not going to find it here. But you will find plenty of over-the-top characters, some great musical moments, and two extremely likeable leads. Though it may seem like Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah make an odd pairing, they actually shine together onscreen.

Latifah stars as Vi Rose, a hard-working single mother and choir leader. Parton, on the other hand, plays a small town socialite named G.G., who isn't afraid to butt heads when it comes to her church's gospel music. To complicate matters even further, Vi and G.G.'s offspring soon forge a romantic connection.

Vi's daughter Olivia (played engagingly by Nickelodeon star Keke Palmer) is a standout gospel vocalist and her talents mesh very well with G.G.'s grandson Randy. So well in fact, that they soon get the church choir national attention and the opportunity to compete at the world renowned Joyful Noise Competition.

But if the group wants to win the top gospel prize, they'll all have to work together. And that requires teamwork from Vi and G.G. as well as some cooperation from the stern pastor (Courtney B. Vance).

As you can imagine, happy endings aren't hard to come by in an upbeat film like Joyful Noise. And though the finale, romantic subplots, and cat fights may seem predictable, the winning cast and inspiring songs more than make up for it.

Bottom line: Let's be honest, part of the reason we go to movies is to escape the drama of our day-to-day lives. And Joyful Noise offers a great excuse to do just that. There is definitely a cornball factor to this movie, but ultimately that's part of its charm. Plus, Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah get a chance to really show off their comedy chops.

Did you get a chance to watch Joyful Noise this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dolly Parton, Gospel, Joyful Noise, Keke Palmer, Música, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Queen Latifah