CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story breaks the most watched record for VH1 original movies

Ever since the trailer for CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story was seen during this year’s MTV VMA’s, it is safe to say that everyone who grew up in the ‘90s was excited for its premiere on Oct. 21 on VH1. There was so much excitement and buzz about it as seen on various social media sites that it is now VH1’s most watched original movie.

The actresses who portrayed Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes were Drew Sidora, Keke Palmer and Niatia Jessica Kirkland, whose stage name is Lil’ Mama.

Upon hearing these names, many people wondered if this group of girls would be able to adequately act out of the lives of one of the most beloved girl groups of all time. Sidora is relatively unknown, Palmer had a show on Nickelodeon and Lil’ Mama is best known for walking on stage during rapper Jay-Z and singer Alicia Keys’ performance on the 2009 VMA’s. Clearly, they have big shoes to fill.

After watching the movie, many people agree that they were perfectly cast. Not only did each of the actresses have an uncanny physical resemblance to their respective characters, but they acted out famous interviews and recreated music videos with stunning accuracy. One of the most respectable things the actresses did was not try to change or add things to their characters and just played them as they were.

The film depicted many of the hard times that TLC endured throughout their journey together. The movie did not shy away from the more controversial aspects of their career like Chilli’s abortion and Left Eye burning down her boyfriend’s house. The most heart-breaking part, of course, was when Palmer and Sidora’s characters broke down when they got the news of Left Eye’s death in a car accident while she was on vacation in Honduras.

The movie itself was also controversial because it depicted that TLC’s former manager Perri “Pebbles” Reid along with music mogul Antonio “L.A.” Reid cheated the group out of money. They famously admitted they were “broke as broke can be” at the 1996 Grammy’s press conference. This, of course, angered Pebbles. The actress who played Pebbles, Rochelle Aytes, told HipHollywood that T-Boz and Chilli were on set a lot and gave her advice on how to portray Pebbles. Aytes also told that T-Boz and Chilli were in “awe” of how Palmer, Sidora and Lil’ Mama were so perfectly portraying the group. Since T-Boz and Chilli were executive producers and so closely involved in the making of this movie, it is pretty safe to say it is an accurate portrayal of their lives and days as TLC.

Even though the film showcased a lot of tough moments, it was still an inspired film as viewers got to look back on TLC’s career and their own childhoods. For people who have never heard of TLC, it is a great film to get introduced to the everlasting greatness that is TLC.