Few icons can be identified by their first name alone. Dawn Porter’s engaging film Luther: Never Too Much pays homage to one such rare figure in the American entertainment landscape, whose voice is for many—and for Black Americans in particular—an instantly recognizable part of the soundtrack of their lives. Both encyclopedic in scope and energetic in tone, Luther explores the R&B sensation’s life and career, painting the fullest picture to date of his trajectory from an aspiring teenage singer in Harlem to a nationwide household name, with all of the surprising obstacles, successes, twists and turns, that marked his road to fame. Porter mines a rich archive of footage and audio of the late entertainer, which is juxtaposed with illuminating interviews of friends and entertainers who knew him. The result is a heady mix: both a complex portrait of the man himself and a rousing celebration of the power of music. Side effects to viewing this film may include dancing in the theater aisle. TS

Filmmaker Q&A following screening