The film follows Luther Vandross' nearly 40 years in the entertainment industry and highlights his career highs as well as battles with negative media attention focused on his weight and sexuality. Footage from his performances and archived interviews, as well as interviews with his associates are included. The film's subtitle is taken from one of Vandross' best known songs.[3] It includes interviews with Dionne Warwick, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Richard Marx, Nile Rodgers, Marcus Miller, and others.[4]
Production
Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty began developing a film focused on Luther Vandross in 2018 through Raindog Films.[5] Director Dawn Porter's production company Trilogy Films joined in 2022. Raindog Films acquired the rights to produce from Vandross' estate.[5] The score was composed by Robert Glasper.[5]Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, and Jon Platt are executive producers.[5]
Release
Luther: Never Too Much premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024.[5] In May 2024, CNN Films and the Oprah Winfrey Network acquired the SVOD distribution rights to the documentary, planning to air it on CNN, OWN and Max in 2025.[6] In August 2024, Giant Pictures and Sony Music Vision announced a plan to distribute the film theatrically that fall.[7]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 40 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.The website's consensus reads: "Blessed with a lovable music genius as its subject, Never Too Much tells Luther Vandross' story straight with a soundtrack that'll send audiences out on a high."[8] Valerie Complex praised director Dawn Porter in a Deadline review, writing, "Porter constructs a portrait that strikes a delicate, graceful balance... For audiences lacking familiarity, Porter makes a case to appreciate Vandross’ contributions to music, and to culture. And for longtime fans, she has crafted an ode befitting our nostalgia while challenging any and all assumptions."[4]Variety writer Todd Gilchrist complimented the inclusion of Vandross's music in Luther: "Porter skillfully emphasizes just how much material he left behind, and offers generous enough snippets of it that her film feels simultaneously like biography and a musical anthology, a primer and invitation to explore him further."[3] In The Hollywood Reporter, Lovia Gyarke deemed the film "essential viewing".[9]
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