We’re living in a golden age of celebrity biopics. From Straight Outta Compton to Bohemian Rhapsody, and Rocketman to Elvis, the bar has been set very high.
I was a little apprehensive to see the latest of these instalments, but after hearing that it would be written by Anthony McCarten, (The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour), I knew I had to give it a go. Thankfully, I Wanna Dance with Somebody did not disappoint.
With a budget of $45 million, the cast, costumes, and soundtrack were faultless. Whilst some reviews are negative of the screenplay, I enjoyed the focus McCarten gave to Houston’s relationship with her record producer, and how the music drove the narrative.
Naomi Ackie gave a powerful portrayal of Whitney, making me forget that I wasn’t watching the real Whitney Houston at times. The soundtrack features Whitney’s best work, and Ackie’s lip syncing was almost impeccable throughout.
According to IMDB, Whitney Houston’s voice is used for 95% of the singing. The songs are amplified to an extent that you can actually feel them, thanks not only to the Dolby 5.1 sound system and Houston’s iconic vocals, but also Ackie’s mesmerising interpretation of Houston.
Another notable mention is Tamara Tunie for her performance as Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mother. Tunie gave an emotional performance, encapsulating the complex mother-daughter relationship the two had.
Despite some hard to watch scenes and challenging depictions of the family, the film was approved by the estate. Patricia Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, even worked as one of the producers for the film!
I Wanna Dance with Somebody also explores Houston’s queer relationship with Robyn Crawford, as well as her marriage to Bobby Brown and the birth of her daughter. We watch Whitney reach the peak of her career, before crumbling under the public eye and attending rehab.
The film ended with that one, final, momentous performance, before cutting to black and detailing what happened after her death.
This film held my attention for the whole two and a half hours, which is definitely a good sign. If you’re looking for something to take away the January blues, I definitely recommend giving this a watch (but be prepared to shed a tear or two!).
I Wanna Dance with Somebody is in cinemas now.