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Producers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove (The Blind Side) have a savvy sense for underserved markets. As directed by Todd Graff, the film gives the plot short shrift in favor of an emphasis on an engaging blend of gospel, rock, hip-hop and R&B. Not that that’s a bad thing.

The story has some wince-inducing, corn-pone-cutesy dialogue — spoken by Dolly Parton’s character — and a flurry of moralistic lecturing, mostly by Queen Latifah, but the music is undeniably enjoyable.

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      VIDEO: Dolly Parton talks new film ‘Joyful Noise’
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      BLOG: Queen Latifah discusses her and Parton’s shared ‘assets’

Those who come to see a spiritually inspiring story, however, will be disappointed. It’s all about winning a choral competition, which is supposed to somehow make up for the dire economy in the small town of Pacashau, Ga.

The choir is an exceptionally harmonious lot, except for the rivalry between strong-willed divas G.G. (Parton) and Vi Rose (Latifah). Vi Rose is wedded to singing traditional hymns, while G.G. favors more contemporary songs, complete with hip shaking and elaborate choreography. Guess who wins?
Stars: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Courtney B. Vance, Kris Kristofferson
Director:Todd Graff
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG-13 for language including a sexual reference
Running time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Opens Friday nationwide

Dolly’s G.G. is coiffed and dressed to the nines, and Latifah is down-to-earth and hardworking. They trade barbs at most encounters. This rivalry is intended as a source of great mirth but is only remotely funny in one scene where the two haul off and verbally batter each other at a restaurant.

Meanwhile, Vi Rose’s 16-year-old daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), and G.G.’s grandson Randy (Jeremy Jordan) start a romance, which annoys Vi Rose to no end. G.G., on the other hand, gives Olivia a makeup brush and encourages her to look more like a woman to attract the handsome fellow.

But G.G. perhaps can be forgiven, since her beloved husband, Bernard (Kris Kristofferson), has unexpectedly died. She mourns him by imagining the two dancing in the moonlight and singing a duet with Randy that starts out as a sweet moment then becomes an extended maudlin performance.

Talented singers of all ages abound, particularly Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) and Jordan, a Broadway actor. A particularly engaging version of Paul McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed is a standout.

Everyone in town describes the musically gifted Randy as trouble with a capital T, but he seems harmless, even goodhearted, helping Olivia’s brother Walter (Dexter Darden) cope with Asperger’s syndrome. Walter is obsessed with one-hit wonders and repeatedly cites his favorite, the Left Banke’s 1966 song Walk Away Renee. He and Randy do a lovely rendition, but the Left Banke did have a second hit, Pretty Ballerina. Sure, it’s nitpicking, but because the story is so thin, the viewer has time to ponder between musical performances.