Movie Review: ‘Praise This’
Spoiler warning!
This movie follows the rebel main character, Sam, who has dreams of being a superstar artist. Forced by her dad to move to Atlanta and out of LA after getting into trouble, Sam moves in with her very Christian Aunt, Uncle, and her spunky Cousin, Jess. Though she is not a Christian herself, Sam joins Jess’s underdog Atlanta praise-team choir to help them make it to the national competition – Sam is in hopes that joining this will help her also gain her attention as an artist. As a part of the team, Sam is able to change their luck and helps the team make it to regionals.
Sam begins working with an Atlanta-based award-winning rapper, Ty, and during a session together, Sam comes up with lyrics to a song he is planning on releasing. However, during the regional competition, Sam’s team uses this song without his permission, not knowing that Ty was in the audience. At the last minute, Sam switches to Ty’s song without rehearsing with her group- ultimately, leading to the group not making it to the finals. Ty storms out during the performance, and after the performance, Jess brings wrath to her cousin Sam after learning that Sam stole Ty’s song.
After the fight, Sam goes to a bar where she witnesses the pastor’s wife singing a soulful song. The two have a deep conversation regarding faith, leading Sam to have a breakthrough. Coming home late that night, Sam apologizes to Jess. The following morning, she tries to apologize to Ty for stealing the song, but he refuses to speak to her.
Surprisingly, Jess and Sam’s group ends up making nationals after a sex scandal happens to a different praise-group. Sam goes to the group, confessing her sins and professing her love for not only the group but to God.
At nationals, the group puts on an epic performance; Sam is able to apologize to Ty, and he suggest that they work together in the future, ending the movie with a hopeful, Christian future for Sam.
Review:
I went in thinking this movie was going to be super cheesy (especially given the ‘mid’ ratings), and don’t get me wrong, it definitely had its moments, but I ended up loving it. The message was so good at the end of the day. The movie did remind me of Joyful Noise, and I was expecting a complete rip-off. But to my surprise, it was not the same and the uniqueness of the story encapsulated me. I truthfully find myself struggling to watch some Christian movies because I think the writing itself can be tacky. As a Christian, I understand that it is important to spread the gospel, but we are here to plant the seed, not to shove the message down one’s throat. I think this movie did a good job of doing exactly that. I loved how they flipped new rap songs and made them Christian- that in itself connected me to this movie hearing songs that I do enjoy (like “How to Love” by Lil Wayne and some Megan Thee Stallion LOL) being flipped into something new.
This was the first work I have seen with Chloe Bailey (Halle Bailey’s sister!), and I loved her in this role. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Druski as an actor in this movie. As a comedian who has done, what some might say, outlandish skits, I enjoyed seeing him play in a Christian role. I truthfully think he did a good job in the role he was given, and it shined a new light on him to me. Quavo played Ty in this movie which I loved. While his screentime was not extensive, I loved getting to see a rapper I love on the big screen in a Christian film!
I overall would rate this movie a 7 out of 10. I know that Christian movies are not for everyone, but this would be a feel-good movie I would recommend to others. Good music, good jokes, and a good message- how could one not enjoy this movie!
Later friends!
JessC
(P.S. Add me on letterboxd: jcollins10)
