The small town of Pacashau, GA is hurting from the downturn in the local economy, with many businesses boarded up and others barely hanging on. One of the few bright spots that the residents can rally behind is the Divinity Church Choir. The extremely talented choir loves to participate in the annual National Joyful Noise Competition every year. Somehow, though, the choir always find itself trailing a bit behind its nemesis, Holy Vision Church of Detroit.

Shortly before the competition is to take place, the little underdog choir's harmony is threatened when their beloved choirmaster, Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson), passes away suddenly of a heart attack.

However, the show must go on and Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) is tapped to take over the choirmaster duties. This doesn't sit well with Sparrow's widow, GG Sparrow (Dolly Parton). Vi Rose is extremely traditional and wants to make sure the choir remembers that they are there to sing for the Lord and not to merely entertain the masses.

GG feels that the choir can do both and she encourages Vi Rose's teenage daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer) to spread her wings and find her spiritual voice singing songs adapted for the choir that were not necessarily written to be gospel, such as Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed".

When GG's grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan) moves in with GG and falls for Keke, Vi Rose is furious and demands that Keke stop seeing Randy.

Meanwhile, The pastor of Divinity Church ratchets up the pressure by telling the choir that if they don't win this year's Joyful Noise Competition, they will no longer be able to compete in the annual event because of financial concerns.

This action all takes place at breakneck speed. Some films feel that they will never take off and get rolling with the story. Joyful Noise is the exact opposite. I found myself wondering if I had missed anything since it was rocketing along at such a frenetic pace. The film finally settles down and begins to find itself somewhat as it follows the choir through their struggle with questions such as traditional versus contemporary and religious versus progressive, something that actually feels quite genuine. Many churches do struggle with the inclusion of weekly hymns and whether it is ok to sing U2 during worship service, if it will meet people where they are at more effectively than, say, "How Great Thou Art".The music is really very good. It is Glee with a gospel twist. Queen Latifah's solo "Fix Me Jesus" is heartwrenching, stark, and flat-out beautiful. Keke Palmer, best known for "Akeelah and the Bee" and Nickelodeon's "Ragz" amply shows why she signed a deal with Atlantic Records at the age of 12. Her young voice soars.

Dolly is always mesmerizing to watch and listen to. The song she wrote and sings in the movie with Kristofferson, "From Here to the Moon and Back" is a moving tribute to love and marriage.

Veteran Gospel singer Kirk Franklin provides one of the highlights of the movie as he performs with Divinity Church Choir's arch rival, Holy Vision Church. He performs his song, "In Love", as a Prince/James Brown smash-up that, while hilarious and a bit creepy, serves to prove Vi Rose's point that you definitely can turn a song meant to worship the Lord into a serious vehicle for self-promotion.

There are some really great moments in this movie. Vi Roses' obvious love and relationship with her children brings out some truthful conversations that every parent will be able to relate to.

However, one of the head-scratching things about this movie is the mixed messages it sends. While attempting to extol the virtues of family, marriage and Christian values, it also winks and nods at the violation of those same virtues, such as sleeping together before marriage.

There is a bizarre secondary storyline that deals with two of the choir members finally consummating their relationship, only to have the poor woman wake up the next morning to find that her new boyfriend has died in her bed. The theme continues throughout the movie as she worries that she'll never be able to find another boyfriend because she has become known as a woman that men "tap it and die"... and that line was delivered by the pastor! Seriously? It is definitely out of place in this movie.

As much as there are real genuine moments that any church-goer can relate to, there are also moments that feel that the movie is trying just a little too hard to be a "faith-based" movie. As a result, some conversations just don't ring quite true and are even somewhat cringe-inducing. In a few situations, the script comes dangerously close to poking fun at Christian values as it tries to skirt the line between traditional values and progressive practicalities.

It's as if the movie can't decide what it wants to be. Does it want to be a family, faith-based movie? Or is it trying to "educate" Christians on their perceived impractical, out-dated beliefs? If there is a way to do both, this movie did not find it.

Because of that, I have to recommend this movie as a rental. I hate to categorize it as that because the music is *great* in the theater with a really big sound system. So, watch it in surround sound. However, if you are a fan of Queen Latifah or Dolly Parton, this movie is mostly harmless. Just be prepared for some “huh?” moments.

“Joyful Noise is rated PG-13 for some language including a sexual reference. As a mom, I would be comfortable with my teenage children seeing this movie. If I had taken my daughter to see this when she was 11 years old or younger, I would have been somewhat irked about the confusing signals the movie sends, but it does provide a good conversation starter for parents about Christianity in the media and living out faith practically.”I give it 3 out of 5 fitted choir robes...