I Wanna Dance with Somebody makes for a watchable Whitney Houston highlight reel, but sadly little else. Yep, it’s a paint-by-numbers biopic, with the film using the broadest of strokes to tell Houston’s story - one career “bullet point” at a time. It’s not a completely empty experience though, as the actors involved are incredibly committed, not to mention convincing. In fact, the casting of Naomi Ackie as the powerhouse singer was the movie’s saving grace. Ackie perfectly conveys all the beauty, charisma, and flair of Houston - elevating the thin material tenfold in the process. Of course, she does have help, including the always dependable Stanley Tucci, this time giving us a credible turn as famed hit maker Clive Davis. Heck, the film is partly Clive’s tale, given the music mogul’s role in Whitney’s life. Unfortunately, as with pretty much everybody else in the movie, his arc is depthless. The only thing that truly resonates here is the music. And it’s a good thing, as Houston’s catalogue of hits is as impressive as it is renowned. The film does a good job reminding us of the sheer vocal gifts our star had, while simultaneously making us sway in our cinema seats. There’s also something to be said for all the costume, makeup, and overall production design on display. Unfortunately, it’s style over substance, and will likely leave Whitney fans wanting more. I know I did.