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Parents' Guide to

Joyful Noise

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Uplifting but cliched film has great songs, bland story.

Movie PG-13 2012 118 minutes
Joyful Noise Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 18 parent reviews

age 12+

You can't go wrong with God, comedy & sass!

This movie has a wonderful story line with plenty of God's love and teachings while also having plenty of funny moments throughout. There is 2 mild makeout scenes and a scene where sex is implied to have happened but not in a way that is inappropriate. All in all it is the type of movie full of love, togetherness, and God that we need A LOT MORE OF and leaves you feeling much better in your heart and soul after having watched it. There are also many things in this movie that many people would do well to remember in this day and time such as how we need to all come together as one and love each other the way God loves us!
age 12+

Not bad

It’s a good movie

This title has:

Great messages

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (16 ):

If JOYFUL NOISE had just been a concert film -- rather than a hybrid struggling for cohesion -- it would have been a great movie. It's feel-good, and the uplifting song-and-dance numbers are great. But the movie falls flat with messy storytelling and edits, lack of focus, and a case of too-many-plotlines-spoil-the-broth-itis. It clearly means well, but it's predictable and cliched.

Which is a shame, because the cast has so much potential. Queen Latifah completely sells her role as a single mom who can express everything she feels with a nod and a shrug, and Parton is (as always) fun to watch as a folksy spitfire who loves to speak her mind. Newcomer Jordon also stands out, with a strong singing voice and a natural way with the camera. Too bad the script doesn't give any of them enough to work with.

Movie Details

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