'Respect' review: A tedious look at Aretha Franklin's career
Courtesy of MGM
The prospect of a fresh and vibrant take on the life of legendary musical artist Aretha Franklin, is quickly dashed within the first few minutes of the new film, “Respect.” Any hope for something different than what other cradle-to-grave biopics have done (and better), is sadly absent in the overused A-B-C storytelling structure and will have many tuning out early.
With such a mandate in play, “Respect” begins with Aretha Franklin as a young girl, singing in her stern father’s gospel choir and itching to expand her vocal talent. The demanding father is played by Forest Whitaker, who can do tightly-wound characters in his sleep, so it’s no surprise that he seems to be sleepwalking here. His parental goals consist of keeping the curious Aretha away from horny boys but laser-focused on developing her musical skill. The results turn out to be a mixed bag.
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), steps in to play Aretha in her adult years and as the film transitions from one stage of the singer’s career to the next, things go from dull to worse. Up to now, Hudson, Whitaker and most of the principal actors have been attempting to put a spin on their real-life characters, including the light sprinkle of an accent. But as soon as Marlon Wayans shows up as Franklin’s future first husband Ted White, “Respect” shows the first signs of turning into a full-blown comedy. He plays the character with such a surreal cadence and demeanor that you fear Wayans showed up to be in a completely different movie. It’s as if he’s playing a parody of the character and everyone else is playing it straight. You can never take your eyes off him, but for the wrong reasons, and that’s not a good thing when you want your audience to sympathize, instead of laugh.
It’s impossible to cram a life’s work into two hours of screentime but “Respect” tries its best despite diminishing results. Aretha’s kids who are introduced in act one are mentioned throughout the film but rarely seen, robbing them of any weight whatsoever. Supporting players like Audra MacDonald, Marc Maron and Tituss Burgess only show up as famous faces but don’t add to the story in any meaningful way, making their contribution an easy paycheck for them and a head-scratcher for everyone else.
One of the things “Respect” does right, is highlight Aretha’s seminal recording of the “Amazing Grace” album, arguably the pinnacle of her career. The film knows how important this moment is and wisely climaxes on it, ending on a high note and hoping to wash away the tedium that came before it. It may not completely erase all of “Respect’s” cinematic sins but it makes enough of a dent to make you wish more of the film embodied this bold finale.
Grade: C-
“Respect” is now playing in theaters.
