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Picture
The true story of pop superstar Whitney Houston, who rose
​from obscurity to become the definitive voice of her generation.
​BIOPIC/DRAMA

I Wanna Dance
​with Somebody
 
(2022)

Directed by Kasi Lemmons

Written by Anthony McCarten

Starring Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders,
​Nafessa Williams, Tamara Tunie, Clarke Peters

Connor Eyzaguirre
December 27, 2022
7/10
Let's get this out of the way right out of the gate. Naomi Ackie does not do any of the singing in this film. That honor belongs, of course, to the late great Whitney Houston, a voice so powerful that it would be next to impossible to replicate without her. While it doesn't affect the performance, it does cast an unfortunate shadow over the film itself. I prefer music biopics where the lead actor actually performs the songs, like Taron Egerton in Rocketman, Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line, or Austin Butler in Elvis. It just feels incomplete the other way. Apart from that, this is a decent biopic that I feel does justice to Whitney Houston's troubled but glamorous life in the spotlight.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody chronicles Houston's entire life as a popstar, from her discovery in a night club by music producer Clive Davis (Tucci) to her accidental drug-related death by drowning. The best scenes in the film, like most music biopics, are the scenes focused around her big hit songs like "I Will Always Love You" and of course "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." The uninitiated, like myself, will certainly learn something about her life and career. For example, I had no idea she holds the record for most consecutive number one hits, beating out both Elvis Presley and The Beatles. That's insanely impressive.

I feel like the film was too easy on Bobby Brown (Sanders), the guy who basically destroyed Houston's life by introducing her to cocaine. It plays a significant but light part of the film, and I guess there's no justice in the movie because there wasn't any in real life. Regardless, it's a good movie.

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Filmgazm is made by movie lovers for movie lovers. We believe in the magic of film and we aim celebrate films of all genres and throughout cinema history, regardless of who's behind the camera or who financed it. We at Filmgazm believe that every film deserves to be reviewed on its own merits and that's what we are here to do. Enjoy the show!
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