Okay, Let's Talk Tina (and Ike)
So, Whats Love Got To Do With It, right? Big movie. Big hair. Big, uh, issues. Everyone raves about it. But am I the only one who finds parts of it... a little bit much?
Don't get me wrong! Tina Turner is a legend. Period. Her voice? Unmatched. Her legs? Iconic. But the movie? Sometimes, it feels like it's trying too hard.
The Ike Factor
Let's be real. Ike Turner is portrayed as a monster. And yeah, from what we know, he wasn't exactly a saint. But sometimes, the film felt less like a nuanced portrayal and more like a caricature.
Think about it. Was there ever a scene where you thought, "Hmm, maybe Ike had a reason for acting this way?" Nope. Pure villainy. It felt a little one-dimensional. I am not excusing his action, but it makes him less believable.
And Angela Bassett? Phenomenal! But even she couldn't save Ike from being a cardboard cutout of evil.
The Drama, Drama, Drama
The film is full of drama. Every scene is cranked up to eleven. There is lots of yelling and crying.
I know Tina Turner's life was tough. But did they need to show every single hardship? It felt exhausting after a while. Like, give the woman a break!
Maybe I am just too sensitive. Or maybe I prefer my biopics with a bit more subtlety. But the constant barrage of suffering felt a bit manipulative.
Unpopular Opinion Time: The Music... Kinda
Okay, brace yourselves. This is where I might lose some of you. I love Tina Turner's music. Seriously, who doesn't dance to "Proud Mary?"
But sometimes, the musical numbers felt shoehorned in. Like, they needed an excuse to play a song. The songs always felt out of place for me.
It's like, "Oh, she's sad? Cue 'Private Dancer!'" It felt a little cheesy sometimes. The music should organically grow from the story and emotional flow of the scene, but most of the time it felt forced.
The Wig Situation
Okay, this is just a silly observation. But some of those wigs? Distracting! Angela Bassett is gorgeous, but those wigs sometimes had a life of their own. One of the major distraction!
I spent half the movie wondering if they were going to fall off. Okay, maybe not half. But a significant portion. Wigs are too distracting.
Still a Fan (Sort Of)
Look, I am not saying Whats Love Got To Do With It is a bad movie. It's entertaining. And it brought Tina Turner's story to a wider audience. It has its moments.
But sometimes, I feel like it's overrated. There. I said it. Maybe my expectations were too high. Or maybe I just prefer my biopics a little less... dramatic.
So, what do you think? Am I totally off base here? Or does anyone else feel the same way? Let me know in the comments!
"We don't need another hero..." - Tina Turner (and possibly me, about this movie)