DVD Movie Rating for: Double Platinum

3 out of 5 stars

Movie Plot of: Double Platinum

Love is all that matters.

DVD Production Details of: Double Platinum

Director: Robert Allan Ackerman

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby

Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios

DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001
DVD Features:
Includes Bonus Music Videos By Brandy And Diana Ross

DVD Easter Eggs

None

Cast of the movie: Double Platinum

• Diana Ross .... Olivia King
• Brandy Norwood .... Kayla Harris (as Brandy)
• Allen Payne .... Ric Ortega
• Christine Ebersole .... Peggy
• Brian Mitchell .... Adam Harris (as Brian Stokes Mitchell)
• Roger Rees .... Marc Reckler
• Samantha Brown .... Royana
• Ed Lover .... Party Ardie
• Peter Francis James .... Martin Holly
• Harvey Fierstein .... Gary Millstein

Photo Gallery of the movie: Double Platinum

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution photographs

_Photo_Gallery_

Reviews of the movie: Double Platinum

A soapy backstage melodrama originally produced for network broadcast, Double Platinum downplays show biz verisimilitude to turn on the tears. With '60s soul queen Diana Ross and '90s pop princess Brandy sharing production credit as well as billing, this formulaic tearjerker focuses on its stars' dramatic chops more than their musical prowess, a choice that won't deter their respective audiences, even as it disappoints less partisan music fans who might have hoped for a stronger musical component.

Olivia King (Ross) is the former St. Louis housewife who abandoned her family for pop stardom, only to return 18 years later determined to meet, and reconcile with, her daughter, Kayla (Brandy), now nurturing her own footlight fantasies. But when the prodigal mom finally does reveal herself to the bright, feisty teen, Kayla is outraged and then hard-boiled. Olivia's offer to help the undeniably talented girl make industry contacts is accepted, with the bitter caveat that the superstar should abandon any hopes of a true maternal bond with her embittered daughter. The usually imperious Olivia meekly accepts those terms, while the secretly yearning Kayla keeps up her tough-cookie cover, but the plot telegraphs its ultimate destination, even as the tears flow.

Both stars acquit themselves well in the story's stormier clashes, and the emotional tug of the story is well engineered to soak hankies. Less credulous viewers will be hampered by the original songs--when Ross steps on-stage, her regal demeanor and flashy (if occasionally silly) gowns support her supposed status as a legend, but the utterly forgettable, generic songs she mouths deflate that image.

Not so much double platinum, more fool's gold.
Further proof that Americans aren't as tasteless as many Brits insist comes from the news that this TV movie was a resounding (and deserved) flop when it aired on ABC - Diana Ross' first film since "The Wiz" casts her as a singing superstar who abandoned her daughter (played by Brandy) in her bid for superstardom, and now wishes to a) get back into her life and b) give her a hand in making it herself. The two stars also served as two of the FIVE executive producers, making this a vanity project times two - our divas take it in turns to exercise their lungs, and if you're a fan of either you may enjoy it on that basis alone.

But unfortunately the laughable dramatics and inability to believe the two women could be related (in anything other than egomania) makes this tough sledding. You may find yourself wishing that the fisherman from "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" would show up and finish Brandy off once and for all - and go after Miss Ross for good measure.

And as for Diana's clothes - WHY?