‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ reminds us of Whitney Houston's special power, but rushes through her life. Read rilaws’ full review:
’s script promises to be something different than the usual approved-by-the-estate biopic. There will be some transgression of the lore, a more personal and probing look into an icon’s life, unlike so many films that simply wander through the greatest hits. That energy is maintained as Houston is discovered by and her career begins its skyrocket ascent. Houston is assertive and self-possessed, clever about what songs appeal to her and defiant about Robyn’s close presence in her life.
ultimately devolves into a boilerplate biopic, a series of increasingly unfortunate events presented with little narrative shape or texture. The film whizzes through the years, skating blithely over, and barely addressing Houston’s drug use until it’s become the problem that will destroy her. I suppose the offhanded way that Lemmons incorporates Houston’s cocaine dependency into the story might be the point; this was an insidious thing that went from casual to serious largely in secret. Still, the film lacks some kind of origin story for this aspect of Houston’s life: when precisely did it begin, and how? That may not be whatwishes to focus on, but in that polite avoidance, the film thins itself into flimsiness.
. By the time he enters the picture, things are moving at too quick a clip for his presence to gain any traction. He’s there only because one can’t make a Whitney Houston biopic without him. The film loses sight of Robyn, too. Maybe that is reflective of Houston’s mounting isolation, but the film has previously established an interesting and perhaps defining relationship that it then casts aside for expediency's sake.
At least there is the music to return to, again and again. There is the famous Super Bowl national anthem performance, the soaring belt of “I Will Always Love You,” the righteous groove of “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay.”is a mighty testament to Houston’s catalog, the cathedral highs and sultry lows of her singular voice. Those songs, at least, are eternal.
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