Anyone above a certain age has heard of Whitney Houston. Mention her name and everyone has a favorite song of hers that just pops into their head, such was her position not just in the music industry but in the overall cultural landscape as well.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the title taken from one of her hit songs, is a celebration of her life and career. Naomi Ackie takes on the role of the legendary singer with aplomb. She brings a giddy innocence to the role, one that slowly dissipates over time as the pressures of fame mount.

The film covers her life from before she rose to stardom, and how she navigated the ups and downs of her career. There is nothing ultimately surprising about the events in the film, especially if one has even casually kept track of her life in the news, but for those who really only know her for her songs and her amazing vocal range, then a lot of the little details, such as her relationship with her family, particularly her father will definitely be an eye opener.

Playing Whitney Houston’s manager and friend, Clive Davis, is Stanley Tucci, who is always a pleasure to see on screen. His calm and collected demeanor contrasts well with Ackies more energetic performance, making their scenes together among the more poignant and memorable in the film.

There are a lot of little nods to fondly remembered days gone by, from the songs that are played that provide a sense of the timeframe a scene takes place to Houston’s landmark performances.

Towards the beginning of the film for example, we see Clive and his new star talent choosing songs on cassette tapes. Toward the later half they are shown picking from CD’s, which is a fun little bit of nostalgia.

If there is anything that would be somewhat off about the film, it would be the pacing. There are moments where it feels as if there are milestones that have to be included and because of this many of them are breezed through and not given enough room to breathe.

For fans of Whitney Houston, the film is a fun romp through her life and career, and a chance to relive the the memories associated with her songs. For the younger generation, it is a good introduction, a sampler of sorts for those interested to experience her legendary vocal range and style.