STUDIO SYNOPSIS:

"Joyful Noise" is a funny and inspirational story of music, hope, love and renewal. The small town of Pacashau, Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition. The choir has always known how to sing in harmony, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to tear them apart. Their newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah), stubbornly wants to stick with their tried-and-true traditional style, while the fiery G.G. Sparrow (Parton) thinks tried-and-true translates to tired-and-old. Shaking things up even more is the arrival of G.G.'s rebellious grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan). Randy has an ear for music, but he also has an eye for Vi Rose's beautiful and talented daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), and the sparks between the two teenagers are causing even more friction between G.G. and Vi Rose. If these two strong-willed women can put aside their differences for the good of the people in their town, they--and their choir--may make the most joyful noise of all.

SPIRITUAL POINT OF VIEW
Visual Review

I remember talking to a non-instrumental Orthodox Christian priest some years ago. He showed me how the Orthodox worship service reflected the vision of Ezekiel in the Old Testament scriptures. His point was “We are the right faith (orthodox)” and that Protestants are unbiblical in terms of worship. I simply turned to Psalms 149 and 150 in which musical instruments are commanded in worship. He had no response.

I remember speaking to a young musician at that same time, He loved writing “Jesus music.” But he had joined the Orthodox faith, and the priest made it clear that there was no room in worship for his Jesus music (or guitar). The priest suggested he perform only secure music (outside of the church) and give up his Jesus music altogether. The young man was very sad.

Tradition, even in some otherwise amazing churches, can be like that. Churches often resist one of the best unifiers there is: MUSIC!

That is what this film is about. Music is powerful and it brings people, of all sorts, together. Music is God’s instrument for astonishing healings, miracles and unity of soul.

Let God put that new song in your heart! And sing it out. as in Psalm 150 (MSG):

Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD!
Hallelujah!

This is the heart of “Joyful Noise.”