What’s It About
The film chronicles the iconic singer Dionne Warwick’s six-decade career in both music and Black and LGBTQ activism. Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Bill Clinton, Clive Davis, Gladys Knight, Cissy Houston, Elton John, Damon Elliott, Kenneth Cole, Berry Gordy, Alicia Keys, Jerry Blavat, Snoop Dogg and Smokey Robinson appear in the film.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Dionne Warwick, a total game-changer for Black artists in America, has her story told in the documentary Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over. The film is like a time-travel journey through Warwick’s rise from a gospel-singing kid to a multiple Grammy Award-winning legend. This lady’s influence as a crossover artist is no joke. Throughout the film, Warwick’s velvety voice is the principal storyteller, telling the truth about her creative and cultural legacies. The documentary dives into her killer range of musical styles and versatility. The lady’s got six Grammys and a truckload of global hits, and she’s not just a musical powerhouse—she’s a fierce advocate for racial equality, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. Dave Wooley, one of the filmmakers, spills the tea, saying, “This film is the story of a transformational, global icon.” Big words, but Warwick deserves them. She’s weathered the storms of the fickle music industry and ridden the waves of social change for six decades. But through it all, Warwick keeps it real with her witty commentary. Picture this: she’s hanging with Bill Clinton and Elton John, reminiscing about her AIDS activism in the ’80s when others stayed silent. Then she’s holding up her 1963 record, “This Empty Place,” where she looks like a white chick on the cover in France. She straight-up laughs and goes, “Have I changed?” Classic. So yes, Don’t Make Me Over gets the job done, even if it plays a bit safe and by the book. But the real magic is watching Warwick ooze charisma and grit, staying true to herself like the living legend she is. In this regular film about her extraordinary life, you get that vibe that she’s not slowing down anytime soon. Don’t Make Me Over mixes it up with old-school footage, personal pics, and newsreels from Warwick’s career. Exclusive interviews drop with her sons, music legends like Burt Bacharach and Clive Davis, and a crew of stars like Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Alicia Keys, and more. Even Bill Clinton and designer Kenneth Cole popped in. And, of course, you get the inside scoop on all the smash hits like “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and the list goes on. But squeezing a six-decade career into 95 minutes is a serious challenge. As the movie wraps up, it’s like Warwick’s experiences are given the footnote treatment. There’s a bit about her schooling Snoop Dogg and Tupac for their lyrics, a tad less about her cousin Whitney Houston’s tragic passing, and almost zilch about her stint with The Psychic Friends Network. So, if you’re into feeling transported through the life of a global icon, give Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over a spin. It’s the lowdown on a legend filled with grace, grit, and enough talent to rock your world.
OUR RATING – A BLACK ICON 8