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"JOYFUL NOISE"
(2012) (Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton) (PG-13)


At-A-Glace Content Summary

Alcohol/Drugs None
Blood/Gross Stuff Mild
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes Minor
Gun/Weapons Minor
Imitative Behavior Heavy
Jump Scenes Minor
Music (Scary/Tense) Minor
Music (Inappropriate) Moderate
Profanity Moderate
Sex/Nudity Moderate
Smoking None
Tense Family Scenes Heavy
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Mild


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: Various members of a small-town church must deal with their various issues while hoping to win a national choir competition.
PLOT:
For the folks of the Pacashau Sacred Divinity Church, the choir has always been one of its big draws and sources of inspiration for the economically depressed small town of Pacashau, Georgia. The choir is so good that they annually compete in the national Joyful Noise competition, even if they're routinely beaten by other, better funded choirs.

It's during one of those competitions that the church's choir director, Bernard Sparrow (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON), unexpectedly dies of a heart attack. As a result, Pastor Dale (COURTNEY B. VANCE) and the church panel decide to name nurse Vi Rose Hill (QUEEN LATIFAH) as his replacement. That doesn't sit well with Bernard's rich widow, G.G. Sparrow (DOLLY PARTON), who's the church's biggest contributor and thinks she should have gotten the position despite Vi Rose having already served in the number two spot.

She accepts the position, even if it means added work to her already busy schedule, what with raising her kids, 16-year-old Olivia (KEKE PALMER), who's in the choir, and her brother, Walter (DEXTER DARDEN), who has Asperger's Syndrome, while their father, Marcus (JESSE L. MARTIN), is serving a second tour of duty in the military.

G.G. also has a teenager in her house in the form of grandson Randy Garrity (JEREMY JORDAN) whose own mother kicked him out of the house. Randy is a gifted musician and singer and immediately takes a liking to Olivia, much to the disdain of local teen Manny (PAUL WOOLFOLK) who also has eyes for her. Vi Rose isn't particularly pleased with the budding romance, but appreciates that Randy is trying to help bring Walter out of his shell.

He also tries to infuse some energy into the choir, with Vi Rose reluctantly agreeing to changes things up a bit. From that point on, and as she and G.G. continue with their light antagonism, the choir does what it can to prepare for the next national championship.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Some teenagers might be interested, especially if they're fans of anyone in the cast or of the gospel and other church-related music that's heard in the film.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For some language including a sexual reference.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • QUEEN LATIFAH plays a gospel traditionalist who takes over the choir following Bernard's unexpected...

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