Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah's new movie "Joyful Noise" hits theaters

(CBS) Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah and Keke Palmer's music-filled new movie "Joyful Noise," about a choir and its dreams of winning the National Joyful Noise Competition, opens in theaters today.

The film follows a choir from the small town of Pacashau, Ga. When the choir director, played by Kris Kristofferson, dies and is replaced by Vi Rose Hill, played by Latifah, it doesn't go over well with the former director's widow G.G. Sparrow, played by Parton.

While the film features a church choir, it sings  a mix of both gospel and pop songs, breaking in to their own version Usher's single, "Yeah," and Michel Jackson's "Man in the Mirror."

The film's reviews are not terrible, but not amazing either, with most critics citing the film's predictability as a downside, but its musical numbers as the film's strongest feature.

"The fairly predictable story about a choir that dreams of winning the National Joyful Noise Competition impresses with song and dance numbers that soar," said Peter Paras, a critic for E! News.

"If it weren't for those musical numbers, "Joyful Noise" would be a slog," critiqued Claudia Puig of USA Today. "More singing and less talking would have made it better still."

Lastly, Stephaine Merry of the Washington Post wrote, "Despite some mawkish dialogue, there's something to be said for leaving the theater with a smile. Can I get an amen?"