A certified show-stopper, this long-awaited musical biopic of the music legend, Whitney Houston, feels lacking as a whole but has impressive and satisfying parts.
TriStar/Sony Pictures
Actors: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters
Genre: Drama, Biopic
Premise: From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before (Sony Pictures)
Running Time: 146 minutes
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Release date: 8 January 2023 (Philippines)
Why You Should See It:
The new biopic featuring the life of music legend, Whitney Houston, conjures a breathtaking spectacle by taking stops through her phenomenal career, one hit song after another. The whole show isn’t perfect and flawed by predictability and convolution, but there are some beautiful insights here, that long-time fans will still be surprised to find out.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a biopic, and thus should feel as if we are front-seat witnesses to her life’s unraveling, from being her mom’s backup vocals to getting catapulted to superstardom, with record producer, Clive Davis, at the helm. The film somewhat gives us that sense, but not completely. It does, however, deliver some remarkable moments, mostly thanks to Ackie’s eccentric and vivacious take on the musical icon’s intriguing journey as ‘The Voice.’
Some fans, who are well-informed about Houston’s most rarely-talked-about moments in life, may feel disoriented in finding the film’s failure to scratch the surface of some of her controversies. Such controversies include her relationship with her long-time creative partner, Robyn Crawford, and her chaotic married life with Bobby Brown.
That said, there are some compensations. Ackie lip-synched all of Whitney’s vocal performances as inspiration for every song was tackled. The choice made the experience more tangible, thanks to Whitney’s magical voice. The film is an invitation to dance and sing along with her classics.
5 – Excellent
4 – Very Good
3 – Good
2 – Tolerable
1 – Terrible
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somedy opens in Philippine cinemas on January 8, 2023. Watch the official full trailer below:
