The Whitney Houston Movie on Lifetime Was Wrongly Named: My Review
The much-talked about Whitney Houston movie came on Lifetime yesterday and we all know how their track record with biopics is less than stellar (read: downright a mess). But, I had hope that this would be a good one because Angela Bassett was directing, and Yaya Dacosta as Whitney in pics was semi-convincing (plus I’ve loved her since ANTM).
Well, let’s talk about it.
* It shouldn’t have been called “Whitney.” It should have been “See what happened with Whitney and Bobby was…” The film was named incorrectly, because it wasn’t about Whitney. It was about her relationship with Bobby, from the time they met to when they separated. It was interesting that they focused very heavily on her drug use. According to Whitney, the first time Bobby was alone with her, she did lines of cocaine. And then eventually, years down the line, after he tried to get her to quit, Bobby joined her in the habit.
Yes, Whitney died of an overdose in 2012, and we know she wasn’t an angel (remember the show Being Bobby Brown on Bravo). But if you’re going to call a movie “Whitney” then maybe focus on the bigger picture of her life, as opposed to how she and Bobby couldn’t get their shit together and did lines of coke.
* Maybe it should have been called “It’s not Bobby’s fault.” Every story has 3 sides: both the parties’ and the real truth. This film definitely made Bobby Brown look good. Not only was his gap-toothed smile missing (and that’s a signature of his) but in this story, Bobby’s Bad Boy reputation was only perceived and it didn’t become real until he got with Whitney. Even his cheating with other women was just slid in to get to the greater point of seeing Whitney flip out. It made for good dramatic scenes but Bobby came out looking almost saintly next to Whitney in this film. And that is crazy because Bobby got in all types of trouble by himself and was certainly not some dude who just caught up. I get it. Bobby did not take a perfect princess and turn her bad but Whitney also didn’t turn him all the way out.
* Yaya Dacosta was an OK Whitney. I wouldn’t say Yaya was bad as Whitney but I didn’t get Nippy fever from her unless she was pissed and talking really fast. So the scene where she told Bobby she was leaving him, I believed her then. And when they did the montage of her singing “I’m Every Woman.” Otherwise, I just kept seeing Yaya Dacosta in bad wigs, not Whitney Houston. She worked with what she had, though.
* The star of the film was Deborah Cox. She was the singing voice of Whitney and she sang her damb FACE OFF. That was the part of the film I enjoyed the most: anytime they had Whitney singing. I got my whole life. Although no one can NAIL the exact tone and sound of Nippy, Deborah held her own and had me throwing my house shoes at the TV in glee. She SANG DOWN.
* The wardrobe department worked hard. The outfits in the movie were fierce! Whitney was laced in all types of strong shoulder pads and sequins. MOST of her jackets were super shiny, besides the Gordon Gartrelle one she had on in the meeting with faux Clive Davis. BTW, that is one character that impressed me. They nailed Clive’s epic combover.
The wigs in the film were terrible, but you know in real life those wigs were always janky. Sooo… accurate?
The scene of Whitney and Bobby’s wedding, they went out their way to nail the costumes. I bet they had a ball with that because between Mama Cissy’s purple ensemble and giant headpiece to Whitney’s dramatic veil-hat, I got what I NEEDED. COME ON, DRAMA! They even had the person playing Robyn Crawford, Whitney’s BFF in a purple suit similar to the one she had on in the actual wedding. Speaking of Robin…
* They shaded Robyn throughout the movie. Robin was Whitney Houston’s BFF and assistant. But through the years, it was rumored that she was actually her ex-girlfriend before Bobby even came up on the scene. So this film threw in this character as a high-top wearing, masculine woman who was always besides Whitney rolling her eyes and throwing silent shade.
The lack of explanation for her was actually distracting. It’s like “well, we have to include Robyn but we don’t know how to do it sooo let’s throw her in like some Captain Ride-or-Die but make her kinda butch too so people kinda maybe get the point.” It was lazy.
The Whitney movie was not BAD because if I ask myself the question “did I want to slide off my chair halfway through?” the answer is “NO.” However, it also wasn’t good. At all.
I definitely get why her family was against this movie and I understand why they’re angry at Angela Bassett for taking this on, because it does Whitney NO favors. Pat Houston said they weren’t even consulted on the film, and then when you see this final product, it’s clear that they family would hate it.
I am actually not sure of what the film was trying to say because the only thing I got from it was “Whitney was a talented drug addict who was in a dysfunctional relationship with Bobby.” If that’s the point, then kudos. If it wasn’t, then mission not accomplished.
But Bobby Brown should be happy with it.
Did you watch it? Lemme know what you thoughts. Also, what should this film really be called?
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78 Comments
I pretty much felt the same way as you. I wanted to see her growing up in the church in Jersey, singing with those jazz groups, making hits, friends, albums, not just doping up and sexing up Bobbaaaaay!!! Angela could have done better….it seems as though she was anxious to hurry and get it out there. She should have been patient with the family, asked, begged, and pleaded until granted the permission to do it the right way.
I couldne e’em watch it! I kept asking myself, “Who they supposed to be?” Nope!
I couldn’t e’em watch it! I kept asking myself, “Who they supposed to be?” Nope!
The title should have been “Deborah Cox sings Whitney.” That was the only redeeming factor of this film. BTW when is Deborah’s re-make album coming out.
I have always loved Bobbbbaay!! He was my fave in NE. With that being said even I know he did not come into that relationship wearing all white. I was convinced early on that Bobbbaay wrote this movie because he came out smelling like a rose. Although many still won’t believe it I’m glad it showed that he didn’t get her on drugs. It was much a much better movie than Aaliyah but that’s not saying much. I give it a C-
Cosign everything you said!
I watched it during the commercial breaks of Empire. Couldn’t watch it in one sitting.
Luvvie, please tell me you’re watching Empire and will eventually do recaps. 2 episodes in and I am hooked.
It was definitely no Angela Basset in “Tina Turner”… But it wasn’t what’s her name in Aaliyah either. I think “Whitney Turned Out Bobby” was ok for what it was… A Lifetime movie. But if I paid to see that, I would have been writing Ms. Bassett a sternly worded letter.
Also, I hope Whitney wasn’t that annoying in real life. The character ignored me. Don’t ask me to pin point why. I just kept thinking “relax!”
It was definitely no Angela Basset in “Tina Turner”… But it wasn’t what’s her name in Aaliyah either. I think “Whitney Turned Out Bobby” was ok for what it was… A Lifetime movie. But if I paid to see that, I would have been writing Ms. Bassett a sternly worded letter.
Also, I hope Whitney wasn’t that annoying in real life. The character annoyed me. Don’t ask me to pin point why. I just kept thinking “relax!”
i really tried. I stopped the DVR at seven minutes. Mostly because that was the performance of Greatest Love of All and I got sad.
They got the wig right.
I agree. I was already not feeling the idea of a TV movie. Whitney, despite her demons, was iconic. I think her story deserved to be told on the big screen. I do think since this movie focused on her and Bobby, it leaves room for a motion picture of her life down the road.
I agree if ray charles got Ray they shouldve waited to do it right.
I knew going in that the movie was focusing on five of the Bobby years. To try to tell Whitney’s life story on a Lifetime budget would have been impossible. It matters not that Lifetime tackled the project first. While Bobby did come off looking kinda saintly, I thought the movie showed us what in the know folks have been saying all along–Whitney had been doing cocaine before she met Bobby. He alone is not the reason for her downfall. She (like a most people who indulge) do not begin using thinking they will become addicted. Looking at it, Whitney seems to have a bit of an addictive/perfectionist personality: work, drugs her man. Her stage presence–@ the height of popularity NOBODY compared to her. Whitney & Bobby relationship: lust, love: Who doesn’t want that? (Certainly, we can do without the infidelity. He was in those relationships before he met Whitney. There is nothing that says her story (cradle to grave) can’t be told on the big screen; however, I think it is still too soon for that. I say kudos to Angela Bassett, YaYa DeCosta, & of course Deborah Cox.
I agree. I think most people missed Angela’s interviews where she stated it was only spanning 5 years and would be a story of Whitney and Bobby’s love. Never did she say it would be a full biopic because she knows her career/legacy was too big for that. And while it didn’t really share any info we didn’t already know, it was a good film for what it was and the actors did great becoming the characters. Also, it was nice reliving those awesome Whitney moments through Deborah Cox’s singing.
Hi Kara H
I strongly agree with you. I feel that Whitney may have spoken to Angela about her and bobby’s relationship in the past. I feel she done an awesome job the movie was great to me for the channel it was on and if she would had gone into a movie it would have been longer and even better. I truly believe Bobby and Whitney were in love just as the movie showed. The lady Ya Ya playing Whitney was great and of cause, Debra Cox could sing her butt off. The whole movie was great to me. I believe the family may be upset because remember the guy that pass her the drugs at the party I believe that was Whitney brother because when she announced her and Bobby were getting married at the house that same dude was there and I know her mother did not have a drug dealer there. The brother is suppose to be married to Pat , Whitney manager who stated she was out shopping when they found Whitney dead at the hotel. It is a mess but a great movie to me.
I agree with everything you said and I thank you for saying it. Most people missed the fact that it did not intend to be a complete life story of Whitney. It was SUPPOSED to focus on the love story between the two. And I think it did a GREAT job. Whitney’s mother and family will NEVER be satisfied by any movie done about her because NOBODY else can sing, act, dance, move, speak, feel exactly like Whitney. That expectation is just unrealistic. I think a lot of people are just hating because of the Aaliyah travesty. I say kudos to Angela, Deborah, Yaya, and Arlen.
That’s right, Laveece. Can’t wait to see LuvBug’s review of “With This Ring.”
I definitely agree with you. What really bothered me is that they interviewed Bobby right after and talked to him about how he proposed to Nippy and it didn’t resemble the Scene in the movie at all (which was all kinds of creepy). So what exactly was the movie based on? Who wrote this script? I joked it was Bobby himself because it took 1 hr and 22 minutes before Bobby even touched drugs on screen. I gave the most severe of side eyes!
yaYa was decent and way better than I expected. I think she almost danced to well to be Whitney. You know she was challenged in that area.
Most importantly I agree about Deborah Cox. The music kept me watching and I was more than impressed with how she handled this project. It wasn’t a horrible movie but it definitely didn’t do Whitney any justice either.
I wish my future wife could love me like Whitney loved Bobby.
I thought the movie was good for what it was. Angela Bassett got this movie together in 3 weeks and for that alone I have to give her her props! I don’t know why people are so shocked that the movie didn’t focus on her entire life because it was never promoted as such. It was always said that this will be a movie about Whitney and Bobby’s relationship and that’s exactly what it was. With the interview that followed I’m convinced that Bobby was the consultant to the movie. That’s the only thing I had a problem with. Angela knew she was wrong for making Bobby seem so innocent and only hinting at his short-comings.
It should’ve been called Whitney: The Bobby Years.
I didn’t think it was bad, but it was incomplete. If you’re gonna tell the Whitney & Bobby story, then tell it! They could’ve replaced a few of those love scenes with Bobby court scenes.
I agree… I would’ve called it ‘Whitney & Bobby: the Real Story.’ I fully understand why the family is upset. The movie focused a lot on her cocaine usage and portrayed her as a functioning addict. That was a problem but there was so much more to her, as a woman, as a Mother and as an artist. I thoroughly enjoyed Clive Davis’ program featuring all of her greatest performances.
How dare they act like he was an alcoholic who used drugs. He was an alcoholic AND a crackhead. He still has that crackhead jaw twitch to this very day.
Well I’m dead…
i just died twice
Y’all hard for 3 weeks and Ms.Sissy is a hard lady to work with (trust)! I did cover my eyes on some scenes…LOL
My only real conclusion is that Robyn is the original Melissa Forde (Rihanna’s BFF) and that nothing is ever truly new.
While watching this I was only happy while singing some of my favorite Whitney songs. I was disappointed the whole focus was on her relationship with Bobby…clearly there was a lot more to her than being Mrs. Bobby Brown. If she was described as one of the most prolific artists of our time, why not focus more on her musical career? I enjoyed the live performances special much more
I think you just nailed the title: Being Mrs. Bobby Brown.
It was a big old “meh” to me. It wasn’t awful. It just wasn’t good. I wish Lifetime would stop trying to tackle these biopic on the shoestring budget they clearly spend. I think Angela did the best she could given the circumstances. In less skill hands this could have been another Aaliyah movie. On the other hand I do think they bent over backwards to portray Bobby as a nice guy. There was nothing about his troubles pre-Whitney and they repeatedly had the character talking about how he “take care of his children” yet no mention of the frequent court appearances and judgement due to being behind on child support?
On the other hand Debra Cox SANG! I hear NBC’s next life theatrical production is supposed to be The Wiz. Can somebody sign her her up now so we can at least have good singing?
The family came out against the movie without even reviewing a script; they also refused to let them use any of the original music. The estate prefers a whitewashed, nominated-for-sainthood version of Whitney. Cousin Dionne gave it a lukewarm review after her advance preview. Where is that ignant Bobbi Kris? And we know Mama Cissy must be using what’s left of the drugs.
And why are folks surprised about Deborah Cox? Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here, y’all. I never understood why she didn’t blow up.
It’s entertainment. It wasn’t the gospel, or anything that would alter my opinion of Whitney’s career. I was just glad that we didn’t have to live through her demise. It was brutal enough in reality.
Why can’t we get it right ah! Lifetime are you about just throwing things together. I expected better from Angela Basset. I understand it’s about the money but can we tell a great story and also make a profit.
Was this the only way they could get backing by telling Whitney and Bobby’s drug addiction mess. Looks like they didn’t have much of a story and the lawyers determined how much they would be able to say.
I’m over Lifetime and Black Biopics!!! It seems to always have the same story. They never consult with the family or get their permission to make a movie. It’s disrespectful and not fair to the artist, their family or the fans.
For me I could not watch it, I miss Whitney too much. Sometimes I believe it is better not too know too much about people personal lives. Plus no one can tell her side but her.
Good commentary and comments all around. I wouldn’t say that Bobby’s image was displayed as that of a saint, but that we just cannot fully believe that Whitney was not the America’s girl pop singer type image that that creepy Clive Davis presented to us. Remember this is pre-24-hour news cycle/social media/internet. I didn’t know Whitney was like she was until I saw Being Bobby Brown. Caught me totally by surprise. In the post-movie interview Bobby said the show was supposed to be about him but Whitney kept showing up. Wow and WHY?
As far as the movie, Yaya worked with what she was given like it has been said and she made Whitney look healthy with more rhythm. Both Yaya and the actor who played Bobby looked a bit too polished and couldn’t give us the ghetto-ratchet that was the real Whitney and Bobby. They had chemistry.
The family: on one hand, yes it’s very difficult to see a family member portrayed on screen, esp. when that family member’s image is not shown in the most favorable light. On the other hand, the family (not Bobbi Christina) has exploited Whitney’s image/legacy from the time she was laid to rest. They want a movie THEIR way, which is their prerogative (no pun intended!) but they shouldn’t be so offended at this movie’s outcome. It could have been MUCH MUCH worse.
Angela worked with what she had but a bigger budget was definitely needed.
Like someone said before, there’s room and opportunity for a major, big screen, big budget biopic in the future.
Which makes me wonder: what’s the best bio pic out that’s been done? Ever?
I agree with this post. I’m a fan of Angela Bassett and Deborah Cox does it for me every time, probably can’t get much closer in voice and power however… clearly that was The Bobby Brown Story featuring Whitney Houston. The focus was on their love story and Bobby’s perspective of such. While drug use was a part of her/their lives, it didn’t have to be the emphasis. The story failed to get into the meat, the essence of Whitney. Maybe it should have been called, I’ma getchu back for doing that interview with Oprah…
I though about that Oprah interview too!
While Shaun was asking him those softball questions, I really wanted her to ask him if he really spit on Whitney like she told Oprah that he did.
That movie was terrible, and Angela Bassett really did her friend no favors with this half azzed biopic. Between the drugs, the raunchy sex scenes and the overall low-budget cheesiness of it, I was really not impressed and I have to wonder if they were really satisfied with this project or if they just had to make do with what they could they produce without the family’s cooperation.
Yes, we all know that Whitney did drugs but she was so much more, and for them to just focus on that brief time with Bobby made no sense at all. They even skipped the last 10 years of her life.
Heck, Bobbi Kris was still a toddler with 10 minutes left in the movie! I was like, so how are they going to wrap this up?
Folks were on Twitter praising this movie and talking about how Angela did such a great job, but the Devil is a liar! She did not do a great job, and this movie sucked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZHwxIL9oYo
And can we talk about Bobby’s interview with Shaun Robinson? I don’t know who is representing homeboy these days, but he really needs to give that person a bonus for getting him a full night of image rehab programming on Lifetime.
Whitney was an international superstar, and I do hope that someone is able to bring her story to the big screen in a more balanced film than this mess. She had a life before Bobby and after him no matter how troubled or brief it was.
“Between the drugs, the raunchy sex scenes and the overall low-budget cheesiness of it, I was really not impressed and I have to wonder if they were really satisfied with this project or if they just had to make do with what they could they produce without the family’s cooperation.
Yes, we all know that Whitney did drugs but she was so much more, and for them to just focus on that brief time with Bobby made no sense at all.”
That sums up how I felt about it. This INCREDIBLE artist gets that d-rate lookin shite? Cheap wigs, cheap outfits, cheap sets, half-ass actors, a script that focused solely on her relationship with one person and her drug use? That’s all she got reduced to?
I hated it.
I was going to watch it, but I won’t be after reading these comments. Even the poster for this movie, with the actress posing as Whitney, lacks the elegance she exuded.
Full disclosure: i didn’t see the movie. Why? because no matter what was portrayed on the screen, it was going to be a ‘sanitized’ version of her life. Whitney’s family is probably trying to get a billions dollars for their ‘version’ of her which will paint her a daily church-going saint, a voice like no other, how Bobby bewitched and tricked their ‘good girl’ into a crackhead and was nothing but a cheating and abusive, can’t keep out of jail deadbeat.
people who adore Whitney are going to trash anything that isn’t their version of the person the listened to, saw in concert or held in such high esteem.
those in the music and Hollywood industry who know about the drug use, abuses, the cheating and other things that probably STILL haven’t come up (because they don’t want to speak ill of the dead) isn’t going to change the fact that she was a major addict with a beautiful voice who just couldn’t get it together.
Its unfortunate and a cautionary tale. Anyone who knows a drug addict will tell you that you can love them to death but until THEY want help, until THEY don’t want to do drugs no more, they will continue until there is nothing left. absolutely NOTHING will make them stop.
Whatever demons drive Whitney to do drugs well can only speculate. She had what every person wants: talent, beauty, fame. and it still didn’t matter. she died in a embarrassing and horrible matter. its sad, its unfortunate and making a movie of her life isn’t gong to change that.
The point is both Whitney and Bobby were using drugs before they got together. Bobby lied about that and lied about being sober for 13 years when in fact he was arrested for cocaine possession in 2008 and given community service. The movie paints Bobby as a saint and Whitney as the one who corrupted him. Nobody corrupted anybody.
“The beginning and last tracks of the album I did with MCA A&R Louis Silas so the album would be filled with numbers. The song ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ is on there three times! Silas begged Babyface and L.A Reid to produce it – Bobby did not show up at the studio. He only came by sometimes to try to sing. And that was an endless wait. Drugs were part of the make-up of this album. Bobby was missing from the studio when we were scheduled to finish ‘Every Little Step’. He was on a drug run and New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant was waiting for him. Babyface and L.A were about to leave, so Ralph filled in. ‘Every Little Step’ has two singers. Bobby and Ralph. Go back and listen to the lead vocals. Then listen to Ralph.”
That is Steve Machat, Bobby’s former manager.
I renamed the movie WhitBY and BOBney…because that’s who it was about. #Fail
Yaya DeCosta and Angela Bassett tried their best with a story that is hard to tell… I couldn’t watch it after 20 mins in as there was some serious bobby brown appreciation(can i just ask why they didn’t get a rat looking person to play him because the guy looks to good to be bobby);serious side eye. It’s sad that it wasn’t Whitney(R.I.P)herself telling the story like when Tina did hers
well it was decent compared to the previous lifetime biopic movies. But it was a drag at times. The actor’s lip singing was awful, but the music itself was great (deborah cox is awesome!!). I also give credit to the acting, which made it bearable to watch.
First let me say that I love all things Whitney and believe she could do no wrong (even when she was wrong-it’s complicated leave my blinders on). But I am done with the whole Whitney and Bobbaayyyy part of her story. Yes it is part of her story but I just want to see her. Just her and how she lived, how she coped, etc.
I don’t know this Bobby Brown portrayed. Who dat? I even watched the interview following the movie. Even the proposal story changed in the interview from what he has said for years previously. Did Bobby write the script? Damn. I certainly didn’t want fights and a reenactment of him spitting in her face (I’m still pissed off, by the way) but not this very slanted one-sided two hour torture.
But Ms. Cox, you better ALWAYS sang!! Whew!
I think it was pretty good. Yaya nailed it in my opinion. Sure other angles should have been presented, but given the time and space (lifetime) not the ” biget screen” . So I’m not going to be over critical …I miss Whitney Houston . I wish things could have been different
It should have been called “We Were Nice to Him Because of the Following Interview.”
I actually liked the movie!!! Every one wants to act as if Whitney was a saint but she wasn’t!! We get sooo caught up in being the FAN but not realizing that their HUMAN just like us and make some of the same mistakes if not bigger!!! Bobby was no saint as well but I honestly believe Whitney got him more involved in the more EXPENSIVE DRUGS!! Both played their parts in destroying each others life but for the most part they really loved each other but in the WRONG WAY!!! The family was mad because they didn’t want the real TRUTH revealed which is Whitney had been on drugs way before Bobby came along!! I liked the movie tho I wanted more but to each his own!!!
The critical thinking about the movie from the family and fans is not so much that we expected a whitewashed sanitized version of Whitney’s story as we hoped for a more rounded story of Whitney’s life… not emphasis on the drugs and her ill begotten love affair with Bobby Brown. This wasn’t a biopic, it seemed to be the made for television version of Being Bobby Brown.
Whitney and Robin were lovers – and happily so – until Whitney was told to lose Robin if she wanted to keep her career. That’s when her drug use got bad. It’s not uncommon knowledge in the queer community. They probably were trying to reference it without making people angry.
Totally agree all around and also, wasn’t it strange that there was a Bobby tell-all following the movie?! WTF was that? Did Bobby throw money at Lifetime for this whole project? I’m throwing shade at Lifetime for bias.
I loved the music…it took me all the way back. Whitney’s talent was a tribute to God.
But, I was distracted in every scene because I kept trying to remember who YaYa looked like.
Halfway through, it occurred to me. She looks like Anthony Mackie— not in a bad way, cud I always thought he looks feminine.
So, that’s my “Whitney, the Movie” story.
Yall saying Whitney wasn’t a saint but Bobby wasn’t no saint either! I mean if leaving a woman with an infant in the middle of the night to go fack another is “taking care of my kids” then he deserves the daddy of the year award. And I was expecting to see Bobby get locked up at least once.
I actually didn’t care for the music for a few reasons (none of which are that Deborah Cox didn’t slay)
1. They were too long. They didn’t need th song the entire song every single time they showed her singing/ performing.
2. DC sounded great, but she seemed maybe an octave or so too low. No one was gonna be exact, but I’m sure there must’ve been someone else available in the same general range as Whitney. Maybe it wouldn’t have bothered me as much if they didn’t use entire songs.
Also, why do graphic with the sex? It was kind of a lot for a channel like Netflix I thought.
Also also, if it was gonna be a situation where they had to rush to finish it, I wish they would’ve just not done it. It seemed and rushed as it apparently was.
Netflix was supposed to be lifetime btw. Not sure how that happened lol
Yeah I was wondering if the sex scene was meant to ground her and show her sensuality and their chemistry. But after the 17th sex scene I was like, ok I get it, they had sex. Damn dead horse. It was a bit off-putting. (I hate to sound overly critical but the white-washed version of B.Brown is still shitty to me so I’ll continue to be petty for a while.)
Graded C. Like almost all the world is saying should have been titled The Whitney and Bobby Love Story. I am just happy they were able to use her songs that we all loved instead of like in Aaliyah where they had no permissions to use anything. It was ok. But it was mistitled.
Bobby Brown came out looking mighty nice in this movie.
When has Bobby Brown ever been known for being articulate?
Whoever they got to play Bobby wasn’t Bobby enough. No gap, no sleeze, with that Juri curl instead of a fade. No, just no.
I felt like Yaya was ok, but she didn’t have Whitney’s voice. Whitney’s speaking voice was loud. I wanted to hear her call him,”Bobbbbbayyyy.”
The costumes were pretty awesome; one jacket look plucked straight from a peacock. Whitney’s veil looked like she wore a swim cap with lace attached. And then the preacher said,”#lettuce pray…”
I just felt sad watching fake Bobby Brown kiss all over fake Whitney’s thigh…little uncomfortable there, Lifetime.
But really, for as cheesy as this movies was, it made me sad. I was in 3rd grade when Whitney blew up. I loved watching her videos and how young and beautiful she was; the video for I Wanna Dance With Somebody will always be awesome. Her downfall and death were really sad, an end of an era, and this movie didn’t make it any better.
I am so glad you wrote this, Luvvie. I told my son 20 minutes in that this was the Bobby Brown story…written and supported by Bobby Brown. I thought biopics were supposed to be about the person named in the title and that they were supposed to highlight the life, not just one relationship, in the person’s life. I rarely saw Witney’s energy and it seemed so forced. I didn’t expect Witney to be portrayed as a saint, but I did expect more balance.
Lifetime need not rerun this…I wont ever waste my time on it again.
Horrible! ! Waste if my time. .I agree with you. It was just about their crazy relationship. The movie was so choppy I couldn’t always figure out where they were in the timeline. It was just awful. Oh and Robin??? Confusing.
Ok, I have had a chance to think about this movie.
First, in the interest of full disclosure, I am a HUGE B Brown fan. So much so that while acknowledging Whitney was a talent to be reckoned with, I never much cared for her after she married Bobby.
I cosign pretty much the sentiments of others: this movie was not about Whitney; who was this Bobby person? etc. but I have two other perspectives: We KNOW three things 1. Bobby was “out there” before he met Whitney, 2. Bobby was not the “springboard” of the resulting drug usage(we do not know where that line of balance rests between those two) and 3. Bobby carried not only the blame for his demons but the blame for Whitney’s as well. He never once even to this day sullied Whitney’s name. (not to my knowledge-if I am wrong check me) I don’t know who was involved in the collabo that resulted in this movie, but I am glad that it allowed Bobby in some way to get out from under at least some of that blame.
Another question: given how docile Bobby was portrayed in the movie, does anybody think IRL Bobby was trying to downplay his image to win Whitney over? Yes she liked that bad boy type, but could he have been too much bad boy and tried to tone it down? Wouldn’t be the first time a brother tried to play the role. I just can’t figure out why in the world they would portray Bobby that way in the movie.
Have not read all the comments…just wanted to express my disappointment on this movie, especially when Angela Basset was involved. Was expecting a lot of singing, Whitney’s singing by the way. I realized she was not perfect but was expecting a tribute to the voice, the woman…..not a disappointing romance with Bobby. We miss her voice, not the drugs….very disappointing, shame on you Ms. Basset for making this the first movie on that marvelous voice.
I thought of a third title:
1) The Bobby Brown Story feat. Whitney Houston
2) I told you that you shoulda never done that Oprah Winfrey interview, now I’s got to get cha back!
3) Being Bobby Brown’s… Wife!
lol
I agree w the family it made her look like a crack hoochie…and thats all. whitney.houston broke all kinds of records and I think it couldve been historical. some folks like.anything but I wasnt happy even tho I.gitz shade. I do like that the casting was on point..I mean she was able to find those who at least resemble..cough..aaliyah but I mean..I wasnt really too happy and its its ashame cuz the trailer looked good. I m single since when they show allathat on tv..maybe im always in church but I mean I really didnt need to see ‘being bobby brown the ex rated lifetine version..I didnt need my chilluns seeing alla that. where is diana ross #laysingstheblues. at least give whitney her dignity I know ab was tryina tell is like it was but still. justmedoe.
im glad im not the only one that thought the sex was a bit graphic I mean this is lifetime. ok..plus tell could have told us its wasnt family friendly ijs
sorry alla them typos #autocorrect..
THANK YOU! I was starting to wonder if it was just me. Maybe they were so traumatized about the Aaliyah fiasco any boo boo seemed good. This was definitely made for t.v. I was so bored 47 minutes into it I could not go on. I hated the unnecessary Whitney and Bobby sex scenes. Damb we get it! The did the nasty. They made that clear. I also cannot forget that Bobby pulled a turd out of Whitney’s butt on his show. Maybe it was this movie?
*they
Angela Bassett made a choice to focus on two years of Whitney’s life. The original script was from birth to death. How do you cover that in two hours? Yes, there was more to Whitney but there have always been so many questions/myths about her marriage to Bobby Brown, so that is what we got. There is a whole lot of things that could have been shown in this film, that would really damage the way people see Whitney. I know things about her from people in NYC from when she use to model, it would only damage her legacy. No need to put it out there.
Wow….I couldn’t believe there were as many comments about this as there were. I thought it was just me that felt the whole show was written from Bobby’s perspective.
I think it should have been called Something in Common: Whitney & Bobby…Angela Bassett has mentioned on Wendy that they couldn’t cover her whole life in that time span so they picked a span to cover so I wasn’t surprised by that but I think they could have left out more of the singing and performing and added more years to the span..I mean I know she can sing..I know Deborah can sing..so I could have lived without seeing her perform at length in any segment….a one minute clip of her singing here and there would have sufficed. Then that would have left the door open to come back later and cover it more or in full based on how this one went. I thought it was good just the same. I don’t think the family being involved would have been good because they are still in heavy denial about Whitney and also I have always gotten the impression that they didn’t know her well because she could not be herself around them–unless she was high. They would have smoothed everything over unless it was something they had already mentioned in a book or interview. Was Pat Houston going to say how much money she made off following Whitney everywhere but yet Whitney died on her watch? The drug arrest in NC back in the day? Did I mention I can’t stand Pat Houston like I know her personally. Ever since Whitney passed she just always left a bad taste in my mouth. And then that long a** statement she released before it airs. Girl bye…stop playing the empathy/respect card when you and ‘dem all were doing reality shows and hitting every awards show when she passed. You daughter is being asked at school about her auntie? Oh really? Now she probably name drops every other day before now and that was cool. That daughter from the reality show is too old to be that distraught over even having the conversation. And I am sure Whitneys estate is paying for her private school so hush it up. You didn’t need time to mourn then. I think you did the longest speech at the funeral and it still sounded scripted. Everything seems put on and fake to me with her. Was Cissy going to tell anything that put her in a negative light or explained how all three of her kids dabbled in drugs? Did Bobbi Kris want them to detail how smart her mouth was on the early reality show, how bad her drinking was on the reality show after her mom passed or how she married her brother/husband after Whitney’s passing? The brother had already admitted he put Whitney on to drugs though some people apparently had not seen that interview and were shocked during the airing so are we going to get some childhood stuff on how church kids can still go astray? Ok I’m mad now *lol The movie showed –for what they covered– what Whitney had said herself–so it didn’t make her look bad or good or Bobby bad or good…it was just a short time span to cover and I would have liked more. I am waiting for Robyn Crawford to write a book and spill the real tea *lol Until then I will wait for the motion picture.
I feel like all the drug use scenes were redundant…I would have loved to see her first church solo, or her singing with Dionne and Auntie Ree… But since they HAD to be ratchet , they should have done the Diane Sawyer interview and the Wendy Williams verbal beat-down, with Wendy played by RuPaul. Also, Whitney wasn’t sweaty enough in this movie.
HA. The Gordon Gartrelle. Thank you for that.
The singing was good but the plot was a’ight. Toward the end, I found myself way too distracted by the fact that there was only 20min left in the movie, and we hadn’t even gotten to the part about their train wreck of a reality show, the divorce and her death. Just like I predicted, they glossed over her death with a few white sentences on a dark screen, at the end of the movie. Booooo.
Whitney….the worst movie I have seen in a long time…it should of been called the Bobby Brown….I didn’t want to see Whitney at her worst..we all know how that went down…I thought the movie was going to be about her happiest time, her singing, her glory..what a disappointment…thumbs down!!!!