It's a tough story to tell, and Whitney Houston herself is a tough act to follow, but the film does a great job on every front.
I primarily wanna give a big shout-out to Naomi Ackie, because she does as good a job as is imaginable impersonating Whitney. I know the words 'impersonation' and 'impression' have generally given way to 'embody,' as today's actors/actresses say they're going for 'the spirit' of the subjects they portray rather than trying to mimic their every movement or to be mistaken for them physically, but by whatever measure you use, Ackie is 100% believable as Whitney, and that's dang near all you need to know.
If I have one nit, it's pacing and focus. There's a LOT of time (maybe 40 minutes!) wasted establishing WAY too much background, and then whole decades fly by in a matter of seconds. I would have preferred the opposite, but that's just this beggar being choosy.
If you liked Whitney, or her music, or fairy tales with sad endings, hasten forward quickly there!
And if not, as long as you respect strong acting and the truth, welp, hasten forward just as quickly there, because it's still flat-out a great movie.
Just a sad one. And heartbreaking. Like Elvis and all the rest who die way too young.
