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Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

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This article is about the film. For the song, see I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKasi Lemmons
Written byAnthony McCarten
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBarry Ackroyd
Edited byDaysha Broadway
Music byChanda Dancy
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • December 13, 2022 (2022-12-13) (AMC Lincoln Square)
  • December 23, 2022 (2022-12-23) (United States)
Running time
146 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$45 million[1]
Box office$59.8 million[2][3]

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a 2022 American biographical musical drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons, from a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, based on the life and career of American pop icon and actress Whitney Houston. The film stars Naomi Ackie as Houston with Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters in supporting roles.

An authorized biopic on Houston's life was announced in early 2020, with Ackie cast in the lead role that December, and the rest of the cast signing on later the next year. Produced on a $45 million budget, filming took place in Massachusetts and New Jersey from August to December 2021.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released in the United States on December 23, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise going to Ackie's performance and criticisms for the film's hewing to music biopic conventions. It grossed $59.8 million.

Plot

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In 1983, 19-year-old Whitney Houston's demanding professional singer mother Cissy is coaching her for a church choir. Whitney's close friendship with Robyn Crawford turns romantic, and they move in together, to Cissy's disapproval.

Whitney’s big break comes at the Sweetwaters nightclub, when Cissy spots producer Clive Davis. She feigns sickness, so Whitney opens with "The Greatest Love of All". Davis immediately signs her to Arista Records.

After Whitney's first major live performance on The Merv Griffin Show with "Home", her debut album is hugely successful. Nippy Inc., her own production company is set up and run by John, her overbearing father and self-appointed manager. Whitney proposes Robyn be her personal assistant, but he refuses due to their relationship and suggests they date men.

After recording a love song with Jermaine Jackson, they start a sexual relationship, angering Robyn. They fight and Whitney ends their romantic relationship, but they remain close. In 1987, Whitney releases her second album and the single, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", making her a crossover success. This attracts criticism for selling out and not sounding "black enough".

At the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards, Whitney faces hostility both at the red carpet and when announced as a nominees for Best Music Video. She meets singer Bobby Brown, and soon gets engaged. Shortly afterwards, Whitney discovers he impregnated his ex-girlfriend, they argue but then reconcile.

Whitney peaks in the early 1990s, performing "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV and acting in the film The Bodyguard. She goes on tour, performing "I Will Always Love You" at a stadium in South Africa for newly inaugurated Nelson Mandela.

Following a miscarriage, Whitney later marries Bobby and has daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. One night, she returns home to find him and her credit card missing. Upon Bobby's return, Whitney finally kicks him out and loses herself in cocaine.

In 1998, Clive pressures Whitney to release a new studio album, as she hasn't for over eight years, despite releasing seven major singles and starring in three films. Whitney records the ballad "Why Does It Hurt So Bad", inspired by her and her ex, after previously resisting. Later, she confronts her father after discovering he mismanaged most of her fortune and is secretly negotiating a new $100 million contract with Arista.

Later, dealing with insomnia and stress, Whitney gets Clive to show her potential songs. Upon finding one she likes, a new studio album is released, igniting a potential comeback.

Clive warns Whitney about burning out and argues against her immediate return on tour, but she ignores him. The following tour proves exhausting, and Whitney's drug addiction catches up to her as she suffers physical and mental decline that damages her reputation. Clive urges her to enter rehab, but she refuses.

Near the tour's end, Robyn and Bobby argue, after the former attempts to get Whitney to end it early. When she insists on continuing, Robyn leaves Whitney's life after telling her John is dying in a hospital. There, Whitney is confronted with a $100 million lawsuit from Nippy, Inc. She cuts ties with him, even refusing to attend his funeral. Cissy finds Whitney in a drug-induced haze so forces her into rehab. Eventually, Whitney sobers up, reconnects with Krissy, and divorces Brown.

In 2009, Houston attempts a second comeback with a new album and performs I Didn't Know My Own Strength (Whitney Houston song) on Oprah Winfrey. Afterwards, Clive again urges her not to push too hard promoting the album. Nevertheless, she goes on with a planned tour, which proves disastrous.

In February 2012, at the Beverly Hilton in LA to perform "Home" at a pre-Grammy party, Whitney's bassist Rickey suggests calling it off to rest, but she refuses. At the hotel bar, she and the bartender reminisce. In her room, a tearful Houston runs a bath as she prepares drugs she had secretly bought earlier, and sings "Home" to herself while reminiscing about her life and career before dying suddenly.

In a flashback to the 1994 American Music Awards, Houston receives a standing ovation for singing a medley of "I Loves You, Porgy", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", and "I Have Nothing".

Cast

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Production

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On April 22, 2020, Stella Meghie was set to direct a Whitney Houston biopic, titled I Wanna Dance with Somebody, with Anthony McCarten attached to pen the screenplay and produce the film along with Clive Davis, Pat Houston, Larry Mestel, Denis O'Sullivan and Jeff Kalligheri.[4] McCarten, who self-financed an option for Houston's life rights, wrote the script on spec, and lined up rights and music.[4][5] On August 4, 2020, TriStar Pictures acquired the film.[5] On September 1, 2021, Kasi Lemmons took over directing duties from Meghie who eventually served as an executive producer.[6]

On December 15, 2020, Naomi Ackie was set to portray Houston.[7] In September 2021, Ashton Sanders was cast as Bobby Brown, Houston's husband of fifteen years.[8] The same month, Stanley Tucci was cast as Clive Davis.[9] In October 2021, Clarke Peters and Tamara Tunie were cast in the film, and Nafessa Williams was cast as Robyn Crawford, replacing Moses Ingram.[10][11] Williams previously played another character in a 2015 television film entitled Whitney.[12]

The film was expected to begin principal photography on August 9, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey and Boston, Massachusetts, according to one source.[13] In August 2021, Compelling Pictures was in pre-production on the film at Marina Studios in Boston.[14] In October and November, scenes were shot in Arlington, Massachusetts, as well as at Worcester Regional Airport, Wang Theater, Cutler Majestic Theatre and Gillette Stadium.[15][16]

Music

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Main article: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (The Movie: Whitney New, Classic and Reimagined)

The soundtrack was released by RCA Records on December 16, 2022. It includes two hours of remixed and original versions of Houston's songs, with guest features by BeBe Winans, Clean Bandit, Kygo, Lucky Daye, SG Lewis, Samaria, Jax Jones, Leikeli47, P2J, Oxlade, and Pheelz.[17] Ackie lip-synched to Houston's songs, though she does her own singing in a few early scenes.[18]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City in December 13, 2022,[19] and was released theatrically on December 23, 2022 by Sony Pictures Releasing.[20]

The film was released for VOD on February 7, 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on February 28, 2023.[21] It later released on the streaming service Netflix on April 22, 2023.[22]

Reception

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Box office

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Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody grossed $23.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $36.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $59.8 million.[2][3]

In the United States and Canada, I Wanna Dance With Somebody was released alongside Babylon, and was initially projected to gross $20–25 million from 3,625 theaters over its four-day opening weekend.[1][23] The film made $1.9 million on its first day. It went on to debut to $4.7 million in its opening weekend (and a total of $6.4 million over the four days), finishing third behind Avatar: The Way of Water and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Deadline cited the threat of a tripledemic surge in COVID-19 and flu cases and the nationwide impact of Winter Storm Elliott as reasons for lower-than-expected theater attendance.[24] The film held well in its second weekend, dropping just 16 percent to $3.9 million, finishing in fourth.[25]

In the United Kingdom, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody debuted in second place, behind Avatar: The Way of Water. The film grossed £3.3 million ($3.9 million) in its opening weekend.[26] It held its place of second the following week, grossing £1.3 million for a total of £6.2 million ($7.5 million).[27]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 43% of 136 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Another wiki-biopic for posterity's sake, the relatively watchable I Wanna Dance with Somebody leaves you feeling like you were on stage with Whitney Houston, but didn't really get to dance with her."[28] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[29] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 88% of audience members gave the film a positive score, with 68% saying they would definitely recommend it.[24]

Ackie received praise for her performance.[30][31][32][33] Critics commended Lemmons for not putting the focus on Houston's downfall, and instead foregrounding who Houston was before fame, particularly her relationship with Robyn Crawford.[31] Stephanie Zacharek of Time commented, "Lemmons is more interested in the root of Houston's tragedy than its expression, anyway. At one point, Whitney laments that it's her job to 'be everything to everyone.'"[32]

Zacharek said the film succeeds in its display of "Houston's exuberant contradictions, and the joy she both took and gave in performing. The movie isn't a melodramatic tell-all, or a total downer. But it manages, even while being unapologetically entertaining, to feel like an honest reckoning with all the things we didn't want to know about Houston at her fame's height. It's a film that takes our failings into consideration, rather than simply fixating on hers, a summation of all the things she tried to tell us and couldn't."[32] Others, like Michael Talbot-Haynes of Film Threat, believed the film should have shown the full scope of Houston's struggles with substance abuse.[33]

Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune reviewed the film positively and said: "A sexually fluid superstar with deep roots in Christianity and the bad luck of falling prey to manipulators and users within her family circle never had a fighting chance at inner peace. 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' manages to suggest some nuance and ambiguity in Houston's key relationships, and within her own ambitions. The actors and director Lemmons accomplish what the screenplay does only partially: make us believe the circumstances and the behavior. Ashton Sanders' Bobby Brown gives us the weasel but also the man. In a role slightly larger than required, I think, Arista legend Davis has the bonus of being played by ever-wry, ever-winning Stanley Tucci."[31]

Criticisms included those of the screenplay, with some contending it felt like it was ticking off boxes on a music biopic checklist.[34] Brian Truitt of USA Today opined the film felt like a "Wikipedia entry come to life."[30] Another criticism was that some characters did not feel fully fleshed out.[30][34]

Accolades

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The film was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards.[35]

Naomi Ackie was nominated for the EE Rising Star award for I Wanna Dance with Somebody at the 76th British Academy Film Awards.[36]

The film was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Feature Motion Picture at the 70th Motion Picture Sound Editors’ Golden Reel Awards.[37]

Kasi Lemmons was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture for I Wanna Dance with Somebody at the 54th NAACP Image Awards.[38]

In 2023, the film was nominated for Best Movie at the 23rd BET Awards 2023.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Avatar 2 to Dominate at Christmas Over Babylon and Puss in Boots Sequel". Variety. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 22, 2020). "Whitney Houston Biopic Crystallizes; Stella Meghie Directing, Anthony McCarten Writing Script For Houston Estate, Primary Wave & Clive Davis". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 4, 2020). "Sony's TriStar Wins Auction For Whitney Houston Biopic: Anthony McCarten Script, Stella Meghie Directs, Clive Davis & Estate Aboard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 1, 2021). "Kasi Lemmons To Direct TriStar's Whitney Houston Biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Anthony (December 15, 2020). "Naomi Ackie Lands Role Of Whitney Houston In Sony TriStar's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (September 21, 2021). "I Wanna Dance With Somebody: Ashton Sanders Cast as Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston Biopic".
  9. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (September 24, 2021). "Stanley Tucci Cast as Clive Davis in TriStar's Whitney Houston Biopic".
  10. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (October 5, 2021). "Nafessa Williams Joins Naomi Ackie in TriStar's Whitney Houston Biopic".
  11. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 4, 2021). "Nafessa Williams Joins Whitney Houston Biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'".
  12. ^ a b Wellington, Elizabeth (December 21, 2022). "Philly's Nafessa Williams stars as Robyn Crawford in a new Whitney Houston biopic". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Production Listing". Productionlist.com. March 8, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Vlessing, Etan (August 20, 2021). "Compelling Pictures Books Marina Studios for Whitney Houston Biopic, Film Slate Shoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  15. ^ Collings, Jesse (October 18, 2021). "Whitney Houston biopic films scenes in Arlington". Arlington Advocate. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  16. ^ Semon, Craig S. (October 17, 2021). "Whitney Houston biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' takes off at Worcester Regional Airport". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "Music From The Motion Picture "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody" To Be Released by RCA Records on December 16". PR Newswire. December 16, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Rooney, David (December 21, 2022). "'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Review: Naomi Ackie Shines in Kasi Lemmons' Lovingly Made Biopic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "Red Carpet Images from the World Premiere of Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody". December 14, 2022.
  20. ^ Pedersen, Erik (February 18, 2022). "Sony Moves Oh Hell No Off Schedule, Confirms A Man Called Otto For Christmas, Sets Umma Date & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  21. ^ "I Wanna Dance With Somebody DVD Release Date". www.dvdsreleasedates.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  22. ^ Daniel Pateman (April 22, 2023). "How To Watch Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody Online And Stream The Biopic On Netflix". CinemaBlend. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  23. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 20, 2022). "How Christmas Box Office Will Shake Out As 'Avatar: The Way Of Water' Encounters Three Wide Releases". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  24. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 25, 2022). "Studios & Exhibition Hope For Christmas Miracle At Box Office After Being Buried By Winter Weather; 'Avatar 2' Still Sees $82M 4-Day, But Could Go Higher – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  25. ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 52: December 30-January 1, 2023". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  26. ^ "'Whitney Houston' Makes Strong Debut". Variety. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (January 10, 2023). "'Avatar: The Way of Water,' 'Whitney Houston' Remain Atop U.K. Box Office". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  28. ^ "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  29. ^ "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  30. ^ a b c Truitt, Brian (December 21, 2022). "'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' review: Whitney Houston biopic sings a frustratingly familiar tune". USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c Phillips, Michael (December 22, 2022). "Review: 'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody' is a well-acted biopic about not just a voice, but The Voice". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  32. ^ a b c Zacharek, Stephanie (December 23, 2022). "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody Captures Both the Tragedy and Glory of the Superstar". Time. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Talbot-Haynes, Michael (January 5, 2023). "I Wanna Dance with Somebody". Film Threat. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Daniels, Robert (December 23, 2022). "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  35. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 17, 2023). "Avatar: The Way of Water Leads Visual Effects Society Awards Nominations". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
  36. ^ "2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  37. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 9, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Leads Sound Editors' Golden Reel Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  38. ^ Grein, Paul (January 12, 2023). "'Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar Lead Music Nominations for 2023 NAACP Image Awards". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
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