Double Platinum (1999) Diana Ross, Brandy Norwood, Christine Ebersole, Allen Payne - Robert Allan Ackerman Movie Review

Double Platinum (1999)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Diana Ross in Double Platinum (1999)

Dreamgirl

When Olivia (Diana Ross - Out of Darkness) isn't being a mum or wife to her husband, Adam (Brian Stokes Mitchell - Call Me Claus), she sings in an Atlanta bar. It is there that she is spotted and is offered the chance to further her career in New York, an offer which Adam objects to as he expects Olivia to be content with being a wife and mum. Unable to live an unhappy life Olivia takes the heartbreaking decision to leave both Adam and her daughter to head to New York to try and make it as a singer. 18 years later and now a big music star Olivia attempts to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Kayla (Brandy Norwood), who doesn't even know that superstar Olivia is her mum. But years of being estranged makes it difficult despite having a shared love of singing.

Now to be honest "Double Platinum" is an incredibly predictable movie, not only by the up and down storyline but also in style. As such from the minute we watch Kayla win a radio competition for a mystery evening and ending up meeting Olivia pretty much everything which follows is predictable and cliche. You know there will be resentment, tears, lack of trust and with them both being singers issues of interfering and limelight stealing. And in style there are no surprises either, from the music breaks often looking like they are actual music videos to the movie's ending which I won't say what happens but lets be honest it doesn't take a genius to guess the climax when you have two singers.

Brandy Norwood in Double Platinum (1999)

Having said that the basic storyline to "Double Platinum" is in itself quite pleasant or at least the idea of an estranged mother trying to make amends and help her daughter. It could do with some better writing, less cliche and a few original ideas wouldn't go a miss but for some the pleasantness of this estranged mother daughter drama will be enough. But it is a movie where you have to be in the right mood because if you are feeling in the least bit jaded you are going to end up annoyed by much of the cliche and music video look.

And if you are not in the right mood the acting is going to grate as well rather than just leaving you under whelmed. Basically the acting isn't great, it doesn't feel natural at all with Diana Ross often looking unsure whilst Brandy delivering stereotype anger. But at the same time it is not terrible and to be honest there is a beauty to Diana Ross which makes those unsure moments feel like moments of vulnerability which are great in contrast to all the over theatrical musical scenes.

What this all boils down to is "Double Platinum" is just a typical run of the mill TV movie, an adequate estranged mother daughter drama which if you are in the right mood will be pleasant entertainment. It could be a lot better but it is not terrible and whilst for me there are too many music video style scenes listening to Diana Ross sing is always a joy.


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