Parents' Guide to

Respect

By Amanda Dyer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Serious themes, stellar songs in mature Franklin biopic.

Movie PG-13 2021 145 minutes
Respect Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 22, 2022
age 14+

A straightforward documentary with high production value

A straightforward sometimes painful recreation of Franklin's complex life. Hudson does an incredible job singing these iconic songs to an audience that knows every word and gesture. The production is lavish and the songs and music are the centerpiece, it is how every character communicates with each other. Ending at Amazing Grace is a solid step since it sets up the audience to want to watch the documentary (which everyone should!). I was especially happy to see how Franklin's arrangements of her songs was centered, instead of continuing the invisibilization of her immense contribution to her own success.
1 person found this helpful.
EllenYesEllen
EllenYesEllen Adult
September 21, 2022
age 18+

Needs discussions of patriarchy, misogyny and racism

I love Aretha Franklin. She deserves many movies to be made about her. Unfortunately this movie focused more on the many situations of men severely mistreating her: the unnamed man who raped her repeatedly as a child, her dad, and her love relationships. It is problematic to watch these situations without talking about the threads of patriarchy (to feel okay a man needs to dominate and bully others who don't submit) and misogyny (women to be used and abused for a man's own pleasure or gain). And there is racism, too, that needs to be discussed. Racism however is sometimes more openly discussed by parents rather than patriarchy and misogyny. Parents watching this movie need to be equipped to have all those conversations. Otherwise, kids assume it is okay to act in these ways. It is not. I imagine, too, what Aretha could have done and experienced in even bigger ways if she had been treated with respect by all men and all whites.
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What's the Story?

Respect follows the life of Aretha Franklin (Jennifer Hudson), a young girl from Detroit who loves to sing. After a tragic accident takes her mother, Barbara Franklin (Audra McDonald), and a sexual assault leaves her pregnant, Aretha stays silent -- until her father, C.L. Franklin (Forest Whitaker), forces her to sing in church. After years of singing on the road with her father, who's a celebrated preacher in the civil rights movement, C.L. Franklin takes control of Aretha's career by becoming her manager. Aretha moves to New York to join Columbia Records, but she soon learns that just having a good voice might not be enough to make her a star. As Aretha searches for her signature sound, she must fight her father, her husband, Ted White (Marlon Wayans), and her debilitating, trauma-induced depression for control over her life and her voice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (10):

Hudson's performance as Aretha is electric, both on and off the stage. Although her voice isn't a perfect match for Aretha's, Hudson captures the singer's soulful spirit in each song featured in Respect. The film is very intimate with Aretha's emotional space. She's often seen being taken over by her "demons," which is how her depression and alcohol dependence are characterized by her family. But her story of recovery isn't typical, as the lines of good and evil are often blurred. The men in her life who supposedly save her from depression then make her suffer in other ways. Well-respected members of the community with good intentions are also greedy or take things to extremes. The film doesn't caricaturize any particular person in Aretha's life. Just as all of her sides are shown, so are everyone else's.

These complex concepts, as well as the prevalence of domestic abuse and child abuse, make the movie inappropriate for younger viewers. But Aretha's fans will enjoy the up-close-and-personal glimpse into her life. The film also serves as a learning experience, capturing some of the history of the civil rights movement as well as the globalization of soul music.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Aretha Franklin. Do you know any of her songs? Where and how did you first hear about her? What did you know about her before watching Respect?

  • Franklin grows up during the civil rights movement. What was her role? How did she first become involved? How did her philosophies regarding the movement later differ from her father's?

  • How does the story show the importance of courage and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?

  • How accurate do you think the movie is to what happened in real life? Why might filmmakers alter the facts in a movie that's based on a true story?

  • How did Franklin's depression show itself in the film? Do you know anyone suffering from depression or alcohol dependency? What resources are available for those who may be suffering?

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