Respect

The film soars whenever the music takes over, as it does for large chunks of the action. But the backstage story is less exhilarating. Franklin had a life as big as her personality.

[Jennifer Hudson is] a winning presence, the expertise and exuberance with which she recreates the great songs at least distinguishing Respect as a superior jukebox tribute.

It felt like every conversation had to feel significant. And two-and-a-half hours is just too long...an unremarkable film with a remarkable central performance.

Hudson... manages to make Respect sing.

A glossy retelling of Aretha Franklin's life that sucks out her humanity and replaces it with a convenient two-act structure.

This may not be a definitive account of Franklin's life, but Hudson gives a definitive performance.

Oscar winner Hudson brings the bombast, pathos and heavenly vocal chops in a winning powerhouse performance. It is a pity her star vehicle is hardly a showstopper and lacks soul.

Jennifer Hudson transforms into the queen of soul and sings her absolute heart out in a dazzling performance that's sometimes hard to watch.

In her feature debut, theatre director Liesl Tommy fares best when bringing the music to life.

Aretha Franklin was a legend. But the new Franklin biopic, Respect, is a forgettable film that avoids the darker and more difficult parts of her life.