I didn't expect much when I looked this movie up after viewing a film on my Alaska Airlines flight featuring Celine Dion in a small role.
But the made-for-TV biopic far outshines the original object of my attention ("Love, Again," of 2023).
Here we have the story of the youngest of 14 children in a musical French-Canadian family, whose dad buys an old pub so that clan members can have a place to play and perform. One day they encourage 12-year-old Céline up to the stage...and the rest is history.
Young Céline doesn't do well at her Catholic school ("Joan who?") and is insecure about her looks, but she's another person in front of a crowd. And soon she's packing the Vieux Baril.
By grit and determination, an older brother snags an interview with successful manager René Angélil. And though he's at first skeptical about the pig-tailed, ruffly preteen -- lucky nickle in her shoe -- that's out the window when he hears her sing.
Although Jodelle Ferland as young Céline and Christine Ghawi as the grown-up diva don't resemble the real-life phenom, both do exceptionally well in their roles, as does Enrico Colantoni as René, the 26-years-older, straight-talking industry man who deals not in acts but phenomena. A scene in which he throws his usual caution aside to dance with Celine is great -- just too short.
Also good here are Louise Pitre as Celine's protective mom and Peter MacNeill as her caring and prescient father. How this hard-working couple managed to raise such a creative family boggles the mind. We see here how Celine grew up in hand-me-downs ("it's new to you").
Celine in her present incarnation is known for her love of clothes, and in this film we observe how she early on starts to build a shoe collection.
"I never want to be poor again," she tells René .
The voice behind "Beauty and the Beast" and "My Heart Will Go On" may inspire many through this film. Brava!
But the made-for-TV biopic far outshines the original object of my attention ("Love, Again," of 2023).
Here we have the story of the youngest of 14 children in a musical French-Canadian family, whose dad buys an old pub so that clan members can have a place to play and perform. One day they encourage 12-year-old Céline up to the stage...and the rest is history.
Young Céline doesn't do well at her Catholic school ("Joan who?") and is insecure about her looks, but she's another person in front of a crowd. And soon she's packing the Vieux Baril.
By grit and determination, an older brother snags an interview with successful manager René Angélil. And though he's at first skeptical about the pig-tailed, ruffly preteen -- lucky nickle in her shoe -- that's out the window when he hears her sing.
Although Jodelle Ferland as young Céline and Christine Ghawi as the grown-up diva don't resemble the real-life phenom, both do exceptionally well in their roles, as does Enrico Colantoni as René, the 26-years-older, straight-talking industry man who deals not in acts but phenomena. A scene in which he throws his usual caution aside to dance with Celine is great -- just too short.
Also good here are Louise Pitre as Celine's protective mom and Peter MacNeill as her caring and prescient father. How this hard-working couple managed to raise such a creative family boggles the mind. We see here how Celine grew up in hand-me-downs ("it's new to you").
Celine in her present incarnation is known for her love of clothes, and in this film we observe how she early on starts to build a shoe collection.
"I never want to be poor again," she tells René .
The voice behind "Beauty and the Beast" and "My Heart Will Go On" may inspire many through this film. Brava!