JOYFUL NOISE
RYAN: I hope you’re sitting down because something has happened, quite unexpectedly. I really like a January release.
CAROLINE: What?! How is that even possible? January and February are the no-man’s-land of film releases.
RYAN: I know! It’s the bad movie season, but allow me to qualify – this is not a quality film by any stretch; but that being said, I was totally entertained and loved every after-school-special-like moment of it.
CAROLINE: Wow. When I first saw the trailer for this I almost died of humiliation for everyone involved. Now I don’t know if I should be happy for you or embarrassed. 
RYAN: I may be a little of both myself. But here’s the thing – although the editing and direction is at times awful, and the writing and performances are as cheesy as TV’s Glee, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
CAROLINE: Honey, no judgment.
RYAN: Maybe among all the seriously good Oscar contenders of late, I just wanted some total fluff. There is heart in the story here, but it’s kinda silly fun like Sister Act or Glee.
CAROLINE: So break it down for me – Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.
RYAN: Both terrific. It’s my favorite genre, musical, and they both sing and take some personal jabs at each other. This movie’s really on par with the likes of Burlesque in many senses, but less sexy and more preachy.
CAROLINE: That paints a picture.
RYAN: It is relatively spiritual but not so much as to be a turn off. And the pop songs all get the gospel treatment and at the end of the day, it’s just great music. The only major travesty of the film is that Jesse L. Martin, from Broadway’s (and the movie) RENT is in it but doesn’t have a song.
CAROLINE: What is that about?
RYAN: I know! I was shocked and saddened by that. He’s such a brilliant singer. They shoulda thrown him a bone. It’s written and directed by Todd Graff, the same director as Camp from a few years ago, so he knows his way around a musical.
CAROLINE: OMG I loved Camp. I went to that camp, actually.
RYAN: Yeah, so it’s a good use of the genre. In the liner notes for the soundtrack he says, “When people ask me what business a gay agnostic has making a church movie, I remind them that it’s a church choir movie. And music has no religion. Music is primal. It brings us together. It creates, in fact, a Joyful Noise. Just ask my mom.”
CAROLINE: That’s hilarious.
RYAN: He seems super cool. And you can tell he has a great sensibility. There are some really funny lines that poke fun at all the “work” Dolly’s had done and the size of Queen.
CAROLINE: OMG Dolly Parton is frightening. She looks like that old puppet, Madame. And Queen – seriously, does she ever look any thinner to you?
RYAN: No. I don’t understand how she did a whole diet campaign not too long ago but has never really appeared any larger or smaller at any point in her career. She confuses me.
CAROLINE: And we all know she has a full time personal trainer. Just sayin’.
RYAN: The young leads are great too, especially Jeremy Jordan. I liked him so much, I’d like to see him cast as Fiyero in the film version of the musical Wicked, if and when that ever happens.
CAROLINE: Wow. You must have loved him.
RYAN: I’ve never been able to think of anyone perfect for the role before him. Ultimately this movie’s not for everyone. It’s really for the girls, the gays, anyone who likes TV’s Glee, etc… But if you fall into that category, get on out and enjoy it.
— RATING —
