Last night was the premiere of VH1’s long-anticipated em>CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story. The biopic creatively covered the trio’s meteoric rise from barely getting by in Atlanta to becoming the world’s best-selling female group.
“Through their very public and high-profile success, turmoil and tragedy, TLC left an indelible stamp of female empowerment that changed the face of the music industry forever,” VH1 producers said in a press release.
The two surviving members, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, served as executive producers.
Watch the full CrazySexyCool video here…
Although we’re waiting for the final ratings, social media interactions indicate the TV movie was a hit. Even though critics take issue with some plotlines, it’s impossible to deny how nostalgically satisfying it was…
“As art, CrazySexyCool is middling; as propaganda it is very effective. I have been singing No Scrubs nonstop since watching it,” Willa Paskin wrote for Slate.
The New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica agreed the authenticity of most scenes was enjoyable.
“At minimum, the film has verisimilitude. The resemblances between the actresses and their subjects can be disorienting, and the wardrobes are faithful to the early 1990s, full of screaming colors in Mack Truck-size silhouettes. Director Charles Stone III does an admirable job remaking old music videos almost note for note and synthesizing faux vintage footage of varying types into a visually dynamic whole.”
Viewers were particularly impressed by Lil Mama’s spot-on portrayal of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in a 2002 car crash.
“Lil Mama was born to play the late Lisa ‘Left-Eye’ Lopes,” declared BET.
Chilli and T-Boz also agreed Lil Mama was the perfect fit for the trio: They invited her to perform with them during a reunion performance last summer and on their new album.
“For 10 years we have been mourning the death of our sister Lisa, and although we have discussed the option of bringing in someone to perform with us, it never felt right at the time,” Chilli said last July. “Watching Lil Mama on the set of our movie, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, reminded us of Lisa’s spirit, and, for the first time since her passing, we felt everything come together in an organic way.”
T-Boz added the founding members look at Lil Mama as a unique performer who is also able to honor Lisa’s style.
“By bringing her in, we will continue to keep TLC’s music alive for a new generation of fans. We are thrilled to be writing this new chapter in the TLC story.”
