Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)

The title of this movie tells you what it’s about. Whitney Houston was the greatest female R&B pop singer of all time, and this movie biography aims to celebrate her life and music. It traces Houston’s journey from obscurity to superstardom: the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Unfortunately, it is a disappointing attempt.

I read a description somewhere that described this “authorised” version as a “Wikipedia version” of Whitney Houston’s life. That’s pretty accurate. You get a brief overview of her career, her relationships, and the struggles she faced in life. But it doesn’t go into any real depth; it’s just a surface-level look at Houston’s life without really exploring what made her so great. It is primarily a series of her songs lip-synched by Naomi Ackie who, it must be said, is brilliant in the role of Houston and is the one reason to see the movie.

The movie does a decent job of capturing the energy and emotion of Houston’s music. It also touches on the humble beginnings that led to her becoming an international star. But it fails to dig deep into her life, which is unfortunate because there were so many aspects to explore. I wanted to see more exploration into Houston’s struggles with addiction, her relationships with her family and friends, and her life in the spotlight. Instead, we get a sanitised version of her life without any real insight.

Overall, WHITNEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY is a mediocre movie that doesn’t do justice to the legacy of its subject. While Naomi Ackie gives an impressive performance as Houston and the music is just as powerful as ever, the movie fails to paint a complete picture of the iconic singer.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)