Well aware that 'Anna Nicole Smith Story' didn't have a good reputation, I was still willing to give it a chance. When I saw the director was Keoni Waxman, I did however let out a small groan. For anyone who's seen their share of bad dtv action flicks this wasn't a good sign. As the first flick to trace the late woman's life, it does the bare minimum feeling ultimately like a cheap cash-in.
From small town origins in Texas working in a fried chicken shack to an exotic dancer where she meets Howard Marshall (Richard Herd), Vickie Lynn Hogan (Willa Ford) dreams of being something bigger. An actress, a model, a modern day Marilyn Monroe. All that happens when she becomes a modelling superstar in Anna Nicole Smith, but can she keep it together? With a fondness for drinking, drugs, Marshall's death and his estate battle as she drifts apart from her son Danny.
A bio pic can be fun just showcasing a person's most memorable events if done right. You don't necessarily need to inject a deeper message or even get all the facts right. This checks some obvious boxes while others are left untouched, but doesn't deliver much entertainment let alone sentiment. You walk away not learning anything more than you already knew about Anna, her son or any of the major faces. A cheap, rushed feel permeates the flick and none of the acting stands out.
Anna Nicole Smith was one of those celebrities that captured the public's attention for a bunch of reasons, but 'Story' does neither her tale justice or those tuning in to watch. There's little freshness in the rise 'n fall tale and little reward for seeing facts regurgitated that you already knew. You're much better off with 2013's 'Anna Nicole'.
