Parents' Guide to

Mary J. Blige's My Life

By Monique Jones, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Docu has mature content, promotes empathy and perseverance.

Movie R 2021 81 minutes
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What's the Story?

In Vanessa Roth's MARY J. BLIGE'S MY LIFE, the singer and actress offers a compassionate, empathetic look at her career and how her struggles influenced one of her most famous albums, My Life. Along with friends and producing partners like Andre Harrell and Sean "Diddy" Combs, Blige recounts how her music helped her and others around her overcome painful memories, drug and alcohol abuse, and relationship struggles. Fans also give their accounts of how Blige's music helped them find self-love.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This documentary is an excellent primer for Blige fans old and new, as well as for music aficionados in general. Mary J. Blige's My Life focuses extensively on Blige's personal traumas, which served as inspiration for some of her bestselling albums, including My Life. Blige recounts how dark times in her life -- such as being sexually molested as a child, growing up in an abusive environment, and feeling the weight of systemic oppression -- threatened to destroy her. It was only through music that she was able to keep her head above proverbial water and find peace and a safe place to express self-love.

The film doesn't shy away from delving into Blige's experiences with depression and suicidal ideation, which is in keeping with her raw, vulnerable songwriting style. But it also keeps some of Blige's secrets hidden from viewers; at one point, in particular, Blige explicitly says that there are still some things from her past that she doesn't want to share. But what she does share is more than enough to help viewers understand that, for Blige, the truth in her music is authentic. The film shows Blige at a happier, more stable place in her life as a middle-aged woman, but there are still hints of darkness around the light at the end of the tunnel. It's clear that her journey isn't done -- she says so herself. The message of Blige's cautious optimism is that, even with life's many struggles, self-love is the only thing that will keep a person grounded and ready to face anything. Her fans, who've identified with her struggle, will recognize and feel inspired by this lesson, and most viewers who watch Mary J. Blige's My Life will feel inspired too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how artistic expression can function as therapy. How can expressing yourself help you heal from trauma? How do you use the arts to express your emotions?

  • Blige's music inspires many of her fans to keep fighting for a better life. Whose art serves as your inspiration?

  • How did Blige's trauma inform her songwriting and singing?

  • Why is it important to communicate your feelings to others (similarly to how Blige communicated her feelings to friends and fans)?

  • What character strengths does Blige demonstrate over the course of the film?

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