I Wanna Dance with Somebody
The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.
- Released: 2022-12-21
- Runtime: 146 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History, Music
- Stars: Naomi Ackie, Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci, Nafessa Williams, Lance A. Williams, Tamara Tunie, Clarke Peters, Daniel Washington, JaQuan Malik Jones, Kris Sidberry, Bailee Lopes, Bria Danielle Singleton, Adrian M. Mompoint, Coffey, Stew Replogle, Chanel Rose Connor, Sean Amos, Jon F. Merz
- Director: Kasi Lemmons
Comments
- majaisakszon - 29 January 2024
Nice try but noooo.
It is slow and boring .
No emotions in the whole movie. Way to long.
And she is to young to play an adult Whitney Houston.
She looks like a teenager thougout the whole movie. That should have been one of the things they should have thought of before casting a young girl for this big if a role.a more mature actress could have gotten it better. It is to long and there is nothing that pulls you in it.
It feels to forced. And Bobby Brown is not a believable guy in the movie. Sorry but this does not have any deep going emotions in it.
Cheaply done more effort in finding the right Whitney would have been great.
Waste of 2 + hours if my life. - newmailbrendan - 5 September 2023
A Pretentious Portrayal Presumably Plain, Painful & Powerless
It's finally here! The long-awaited biography of Whitney Houston, spanning from her childhood to her passing. With musical biopics gaining popularity, such as Rocketman, Elvis, or Bohemian Rhapsody, this illustrious career also gets a story tailor-made for the silver screen. However, whether it turns out well is another question...
You are quickly thrust into Houston's story, from her upbringing, childhood, school years, to adolescence, and then her rapid rise until her premature mental decline took its toll. The script is nothing extraordinary; the narrative unfolds like a chronological account, resembling scrolling rapidly through a Wikipedia page. It seems as though the screenwriters clearly didn't make use of a storyboard. It moves from point A to point B without apparent reason, lacking substantiation. Things just happen, such as her 'first love' from that time, an important yet often overlooked moment in her life. It's nice that the creators paid attention to it, but the script lacks passion. Nothing seems to complement each other. She strikes up a conversation with a girl from her class, and fifteen minutes later, they are living together. After some time, a rift emerges in their relationship without clear cause. As a viewer, you become frustrated when there's no apparent rationale.
She gets discovered, signs a record deal, and a few scenes later, we see Houston decorating her massive mansion. Naomi Ackie, portraying Houston, apparently lacks depth in her character. This is, of course, partly due to the script by Anthony McCarten and the direction by Kasi Lemmons.
The music is there, but some notes and tones are missing. It's the same melody and refrain repeatedly. It feels like a skipping record, skipping many lines, and like a guitar, it seldom strikes the right chords. The film is informative but doesn't reveal anything new. The story is a continuous rehashing of superficial events. We find some solace in the moments when Houston sings, but that's almost expected.
She's a stunning woman with a powerful voice, and her performances are beautifully recreated. At times, you can taste the atmosphere as if you're truly there. Undoubtedly, the ending is the best part of the entire film. We had to wait a long time, but it all comes together. The character evolves, and the story's purpose is realized. It came from somewhere and is heading somewhere with clarity. Her gaze in the mirror when she's alone in her hotel room was emotional and a heart-wrenching scene. You can't help but empathize with her entire life. The upfront investment is minimal, so your perspective is somewhat narrow, but that doesn't make the message any less profound.
VERDICT: The film saves the best for last, delivering emotional moments leading to a poignant conclusion. The story is cathartic, and the circle is completed. It occasionally fits well with the unconventional narrative style the writers employ. However, the lump in your throat makes it difficult to swallow. The build-up is superficial, and the underlying tone remains shallow. It never truly surfaces or reaches profound depths, which is unexpected when discussing Whitney Houston, the woman behind so much beauty. Unfortunately, the story doesn't serve as recognition or even a tribute, something it genuinely deserves. The film wants to dance but stumbles in its missteps. At times, the film feels fine, but for eternity, we'll remain attached to and immersed in the real story of Houston and her artistic, creative creations. The screen presentation doesn't earn a Higher Love, but that doesn't matter. We Will Always Love Her.
