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IMDbPro

The Bobby DeBarge Story

  • TV Movie
  • 2019
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
221
YOUR RATING
Lloyd Polite, Roshon Fegan, Blue Kimble, Adrian Marcel, and Bruno Rose in The Bobby DeBarge Story (2019)
BiographyDramaMusic

The movie explores the tumultuous life of Bobby DeBarge, the former lead singer of 70's R&B/Funk Band Switch, also the eldest sibling of the world-famous pop group DeBarge. Despite his succe... Read allThe movie explores the tumultuous life of Bobby DeBarge, the former lead singer of 70's R&B/Funk Band Switch, also the eldest sibling of the world-famous pop group DeBarge. Despite his success in music, the iconic falsetto found his life in peril as he struggled with fame and for... Read allThe movie explores the tumultuous life of Bobby DeBarge, the former lead singer of 70's R&B/Funk Band Switch, also the eldest sibling of the world-famous pop group DeBarge. Despite his success in music, the iconic falsetto found his life in peril as he struggled with fame and fortune while coping with the memories of his dysfunctional childhood.

  • Director
    • Russ Parr
  • Writer
    • Norman Vance Jr.
  • Stars
    • Romeo Ballantine
    • Big Boi
    • Matt Borlenghi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    221
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Russ Parr
    • Writer
      • Norman Vance Jr.
    • Stars
      • Romeo Ballantine
      • Big Boi
      • Matt Borlenghi
    • 27User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos16

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    Top cast39

    Edit
    Romeo Ballantine
    • Jermaine Jackson
    Big Boi
    Big Boi
    • Berry Gordy
    Matt Borlenghi
    Matt Borlenghi
    • Bernd
    Maiya Boyd
    • Carol 'Peaches' DeBarge
    Kristopherr Brown Jr.
    • DEA Agent
    Marie Burke
    • Bunny DeBarge
    Miko DeFoor
    Miko DeFoor
    • Don Cornelius
    Jette Duncan
    • Young James DeBarge
    Estabon
    • Randy DeBarge
    Roshon Fegan
    Roshon Fegan
    • Bobby DeBarge
    Tyra Ferrell
    Tyra Ferrell
    • Etterlene DeBarge
    Blue Kimble
    Blue Kimble
    • Tommy DeBarge
    Brittney Level
    • Background Vocalist
    • (voice)
    Ivana J. Lewis
    Ivana J. Lewis
    • Bunny Age 13
    Echefulam Madubuike
    • Eddie Fluellen
    Adrian Marcel
    • James DeBarge
    Brittany Mayti
    Brittany Mayti
    • Sexy Woman
    Ethan McDowell
    Ethan McDowell
    • Robert DeBarge
    • Director
      • Russ Parr
    • Writer
      • Norman Vance Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    5.6221
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    Featured reviews

    8eleanor-08625

    Not Bad

    This movie was pretty good. I think this movie should have included more information about Bobby DeBarge BEFORE 1980. There was way too much time spent on the group 'DeBarge' and not enough time spent on the group 'Switch' with Bobby as lead singer. Bobby's drug use played an important part in the downfall of Switch. In terms of hair, the wigs could have been better. Roshon Fegan's portrayal of Bobby DeBarge was pretty good, so I wasn't bothered much by the bad wigs. I don't understand how some could give this movie a rating of 1/10 stars. For those who've not seen the movie, please take the time to watch it. If you're not too distracted by the wigs worn, I'm sure you'll think 'The Bobby DeBarge Story' is a pretty good movie.
    5smooth_op_85

    I wanted to like this

    I gave it a 5 because it's not good, but it's not terrible.

    I did learn alot about the family, but it seemed that all Bobby's character did was argue about his Dad, and then when he went to see his siblings all that existed was arguments.

    I'm sure there were a lot of movies about families that have had good relationships go down the drain but this one just seemed like I was watching more than one movie.

    I do agree with the wigs criticism...what is it about these movie with bad wigs...who is he Tyler Perry?!

    Anyway, the actor who played Bobby was pretty good. I feel like this was a late draft that was rushed into production and maybe they rewrote it more while filming.

    I think the great Bobby Debarge needs a better deal. This movie seemed straighforward but still lacking.
    bronzesrv

    BLASPHEMY!!!

    Bobby my love, you deserve so much better than this! I pray you get it one day. This was not it. I'm all for our people getting work, God bless the actors. The story should have least been a mini series. And don't even get me started on those wigs, the fake looking wigs which I noticed a lot of people commented on, took away from the realness of the story. It was like people were playing dress-up and having an awful costume party and they didn't even tell not even 25% of what Bobby went through and shared only 10% of what his talent was.... and so many things in the movie was actually proven false so that also was a disappointment. For those who knew Bobby personally and his struggles, a lot of scenes more disappointing because it wasn't what happened, so we're not even looking at a real biography here, just something somebody threw together. And again Bobby DeBarge deserved better then this.
    2mawashington-06430

    Talented Bobby DeBarge Deserved Better

    The Positive: I am glad that some Black actors had the opportunity to work

    The Negative: (1) hideous wigs (they have a life of their own); (2) a disjointed story with more holes than a piece of swiss cheese; (3) Poor editing...the story was all over the place (4) Poor script -- I don't think the actors had much of a story to work with.

    I was a huge Switch fan in the 1970s. After I watched the movie, I was left asking "What did I just watch"? May Mr. DeBarge rest in peace, because he didn't seem to have any during his life.
    3teaguem2005

    All Over The Place

    This telling of the story of Bobby DeBarge was literally all over the place. Even when I hit rewind on a couple of scenes I was left saying, "wait, did I miss...". The sequencing was absolutely awful. If you didn't know the story of Bobby Debarge you still wouldn't clearly understand based off of this movie. In their defense, I think they tried to squeeze too much information into the tiny time slot that then got further reduced by numerous commercials. I would like to see it retold in the same way the New Edition story was told over a series of days. This movie did not provide a clear overall picture of the family. Why not do a DeBarge story in its entirety; a mini-series?

    I'm going to skip over whoever is responsible for the wigs in this movie because that would be an entire paragraph on its own.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Referenced in Great Day Washington: Episode dated 19 June 2019 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Be The One (Acoustic Version)
      Written by Bruno Rose

      Performed by Bruno Rose

      Produced by Dante Wyatt

      Courtesy of BRose Petals Publishing

      [Sung live by Bruno Rose at the piano during Bobby Debarge's mansion party scene]

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 29, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • tvone
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Re'Shaun Frear Productions
      • Swirl Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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