Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Whitney Houston was undoubtedly one of the greatest performers of all time. As a singer, she eclipsed legendary artists who came before her. She paved the way for future generations to expand beyond their creative medium by taking moving from music to film & back. And, along the way she also overcame some incredibly difficult personal demons. So, with so much ground to cover Kasi Lemmons' Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody biopic was never going to be an easy film to make.
On a pure entertainment level Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody is an incredibly effective film. This aspect was the easy part for Lemmons thanks in large part to Whitney's iconic music catalogue, which is used thoroughly throughout the film’s 146-minute runtime. The film has a plethora of singalong moments, highlighting the jukebox biopic formula that has become incredibly popular over the last few years.
Complimenting the film's music is an outstanding performance by Naomi Ackie as the titular Houston. Ackie delivers a powerhouse performance filled with emotion, charisma & a presence befitting the pop superstar.
However, when we look a little deeper at the film the cracks begin to reveal themselves.
With so much ground to cover - sexuality, sexism, racism, homophobia, drug addiction, domestic turmoil, greed & of course career milestones - the film has to move at a rapid clip. In doing so Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody comes across as formulaic & superficial as it ticks off all of the notable moments.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a wonderfully enjoyable film, particularly for fans of Whitney Houston. Just be aware that it is lacking any true depth or exploration of the previously unknown.
Ultimately Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody proves a fact that I've learned over the years by speaking to hundreds of artists, there is no drug quite like performing for a live audience.
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