Review: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

I was terrified going into this film. How does one even begin to tell the epic tale of the epic voice that is Whitney Houston? But I am happy to say I enjoyed this movie.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody isn’t flashy and doesn’t come with the hype other biopics have received. Instead, it’s more nuanced and grounded. It reminds me of the 90s classic “Selena.” It’s just a story being told by the people who knew her best.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, Naomi Ackie may not look exactly like Whitney, but don’t let that deter you. She fully embodies Whitney’s stage presence. The classic moves of throwing her head back and finger waves may seem simple, but Ackie does it with the same attitude, grace, and elegance as Houston.

Stanley Tucci was a perfect choice for Clive Davis. He is what I’d call a chameleon of an actor. Tucci doesn’t need a pound of makeup to be a character. He just fully embraces the role and becomes that person. Although the makeup given to him in this was well-done and helped with the believability.

The story was well executed and gracefully told. Many films tend to go for the shock value and exploit aspects of a person’s life for views. We know about the drugs and the scandal, but it is never shown. For that, I’m grateful director Kasi Lemmons decided not to take the easy route and respect Houston and her family throughout this film.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody has its faults, but it is also just a well-told story. There is nothing spectacular or glamorous, and because of that, I feel like some may not give it a chance. But for those who do choose to see this film, I think you will be pleasantly surprised and walk away happy to have watched it.

What Parents Should Know

The movie is PG-13 and deals with tough subjects such as drug use. There is cursing throughout the film, but nothing explicit is shown.