There’s been considerable discussion surrounding Aretha Franklin’s selection of Jennifer Hudson for this look at her early years, but I'm left to consider how Ms. Franklin might have felt about everyone else involved. Jennifer Hudson shines when she sings; she conveys a good deal of the energy and breadth of Franklin’s talent. However, as an actress, her performance isn’t quite as strong, and this is compounded by a generally unremarkable supporting cast which leads to some noticeable lulls in the film's pacing. The storyline follows a straightforward timeline, showing how she evolved from a naive young girl – essentially a vocal prize for her father, encouraged to perform at gatherings for important people – to confronting that same forceful father (Forest Whitaker) while also entering into a relationship with Ted White, who was twelve years her senior (Marlon Wayans), and beginning her challenging journey toward fame. Perhaps if Hudson had been given more chances to showcase additional songs, the film might have made a bigger impact; but as it stands, there’s too much attention paid to the (sometimes quite disturbing) issues within her family, which ultimately transform the story into an authentic, yet not particularly captivating account of problems fueled by alcohol. These difficulties do help explain the woman's fierce drive to achieve success, but they are given a prominence that eventually becomes repetitive and even tedious. What comes across clearly is her sense of pride in her heritage; she also made choices based on talent and skill regardless of race – including working with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section – demonstrating a progressive mindset well ahead of its time. Marc Maron does a decent job as Aretha’s long-suffering Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler, and Mary J. Blige offers an intriguing portrayal of a somewhat volatile Dinah Washington, but ultimately it rests on Hudson's shoulders, and she would have benefited from emphasizing the impressive collection of songs more than the occasionally awkward dramatic elements. It is worth waiting for the very end – there’s a wonderful extra performance by the lady herself.

Source on TMDB