There has been a gluttony of biopics in recent years that all highlight important and often overlooked aspects of the lives of some legendary and iconic singers. Aretha Franklin, Freddie Mercury and Elton John are just some of the singers that have had a spotlight shine on them recently and due to their big box office successes, we have had more emphasis on other singers too, such as the Elvis film that already swung into cinema’s earlier this year, which help to dive deeper into who they were as people before and after their fame. I Wanna Dance With Somebody attempts to do the same with Whitney Houston, who lived an incredible life that included a certain Hollywood film with Kevin Costner and also the infamous Super Bowl halftime show where she gave an incredible rendition of the American Anthem. Unfortunately, the film falls flat on the story of the iconic singer.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody doesn’t have much of a story. The general public knows certain elements of her life, such as her marriage to Bobby Brown, her powerful renditions of some classic tunes at sports shows and big arenas and off course her contribution to the film The Bodyguard with actor Kevin Costner. There are some elements the film explores such as a potential romantic relationship with her close friend Robyn Crawford, that attempt to show a different side to the singer but the emphasis is more on what we already know. What we’re shown are snapshots and highlights of her life as one of the best female solo artists of all time. Each success she goes through is documented on the screen and strung along with other achievements, with little connective tissue. We don’t see how the fame affects Houston as a person; instead, we witness the impact it has on her as a singer. That being said Naomi Ackie, the actress portraying Houston, brings a lot of nuance and reserve to the role.
Naomi Ackie is the best part of the film. Her performance is compelling and engaging and lifts the film through from start to finish. From a naive young woman whose parents are attempting to profit from her unusually strong singing voice and all the way to her toxic marriage to Bobby Brown, Ackie proves to a force to be reckoned with. She plays Houston as someone who doesn’t understand the industry and the business-side of the things and instead plays her as a sweetheart who just wants to sing and make audiences buzz. We have her parents, her husband, her best friend and her manager all guide her through life and it makes it look like Houston couldn’t fend for herself. Ackie relishes the opportunity to mine Houston’s anguish by giving a contained performance where we never really see her emotions at play except for when she’s on the stage. There’s always someone there pulling her along.
It couldn’t be a Whitney Houston biopic without the music and some songs such Higher Love, One Moment in Time and Greatest Love of All all get their eureka moment where Houston feels the lyrics slip off her tongue and into pop culture. These ballads are what make the film flow and even though it can feel like a jukebox, there is little to no style like with the music in films such as Elvis and Rocketman. What we’re left with is more of a stage performance than a cinematic showcase of her talents. It’s unfortunate considering how popular her music has become over time.
★★☆☆☆
2/5
Final Verdict:
I Wanna Dance With Somebody attempts to do for Whitney Houston what Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis did for Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley respectively. Unfortunately, the end result has less style and even less substance than the aforementioned films. Skipping around some important issues and themes that plagued Houston such as motherhood, celebritydom and addiction are all briefly mentioned and aren’t as fleshed out. The only saving grace is Naomi Ackie who gives an incredible and magnetic performance as the legendary singer.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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