A routinely plotted competition drama in which Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton (playing her first bigscreen lead in 20 years) vie for control of a small-town Georgia church chorus.
50
Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Observer
A cheerful, not-quite-off-color crowd-pleaser that rarely breaks formula, it's the big screen equivalent of a sloppy smooch from your over-affectionate aunt over the holidays.
40
Village VoiceMelissa Anderson
Village VoiceMelissa Anderson
Speaking of camp, the diva battle teased in the trailer for Joyful Noise between its two stars, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, flatlines, as do most of the movie's jokes.
38
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Joyful Noise is 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.
30
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
The film feels about as genuine and spontaneous as its evident lip-synching.