The R&B singer-songwriter Chloe Bailey stars in this musical comedy about an aspiring pop singer who lands in a scrappy competitive gospel group.
For an aspiring pop star from L.A., heading to the South to sing about Jesus might feel like a detour. But that’s where Sam, played by the R&B singer Chloe Bailey, finds herself to at the start of the musical comedy “Praise This.” After the death of her mother and a struggle to set herself straight, Sam is sent to Atlanta to stay with her aunt, her uncle and her peppy, God-loving cousin, Jess (Anjelika Washington).
Jess introduces Sam to her praise team, a scrappy competitive gospel group run out of a local, ramshackle church. When Sam and Jess are caught at a party, Sam is forced to join the group, a punishment that, no great surprise, allows her to open herself up to a new life, and to God’s grace. As Sam reluctantly leads her team through a national gospel singing competition, the film, directed by Tina Gordon, takes the “Pitch Perfect” template — an underdog singing group beating the odds — and gives it a modern Black gospel twist.
Some of this can be lightly charming and funny — particularly the chemistry Bailey has with Washington, the funniest and most charismatic star of this show. But things get cringe-worthy as the movie leans on the narrative gimmick that Sam has a God-given ability to turn any trap banger into a gospel tune, eventually leading her to the recording booth of Ty (Quavo), a famous rapper she partners with.
From this point on, the film reads like a faux-hip youth pastor in movie form, only instead of an acoustic guitar, it’s an 808 drum machine luring the kids toward God.
Praise This
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes. Watch on Peacock.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
