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In November of 1990, the world was shocked by the revelation that the two men known as Grammy-winning artists Milli Vanilli had never sung a single note of their hit songs. And the biopic Girl you Know It’s True explores the overnight success and scandalous downfall of a couple of club dancers turned international superstars turned pop culture pariahs.
Girl You Know It’s True tells the story behind the music industry’s shocking scandal. It started simply enough—with a famed music producer with a great hit and a couple of dancers with a cool look and some great moves. When German producer Frank Farian (Matthias Schweighöfer) met German dancer Rob (Tijan Njie) and French choreographer Fab (Elan Ben Ali), he knew they had the right look to make his new single an international hit. But he wasn’t prepared for their overnight success—or for their insistence on recording their own songs.
For this lovably upbeat dancing duo, meeting Frank Farian was a dream come true. Since meeting and becoming friends in 1986, they’d wanted nothing more than to form their own band—and this famous producer seemed able to offer exactly what they wanted. But Frank had other plans. For him, hiring a couple of dancers to be the face of his music wasn’t such a big deal. He’d done it before. But as the group became an international sensation, the lies became harder and harder to cover up—until it all came crashing down around them.
Just like the real Rob and Fab, the film’s stars fit the role perfectly—both in appearance and in attitude. Their performances bring the characters and their story to life. And even at Rob and Fab’s worst—when their fame goes to their head—you can’t help but love them and feel sorry for the way their story played out.
The storytelling, meanwhile, offers a fascinating look behind the scenes through the eyes of those involved—many of whom were also involved in the making of the film. It may be a biopic, but it often feels like a documentary, with the characters occasionally breaking the fourth wall to connect with viewers. And when it ends, you’ll feel like you have a new perspective on the legendary scandal.
For those of us who remember the music of Milli Vanilli (and who may still have the CD tucked away somewhere), Girl You Know It’s True is entertaining and nostalgic and eye-opening, too. It offers a captivating look at desperation, stardom, and the inner workings of the music industry.
You can sing along with Rob and Fab (or not) when Girl You Know It’s True makes its way to theaters on August 9, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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