Movie Review ~ The World According to Allee Willis

Take one look at award-winning songwriter and visual artist Allee Willis, and it’s immediately clear she was someone unafraid to stand out. Known for her dazzling array of bold prints, a fearless asymmetrical haircut, and a real-life Pee-Wee’s Playhouse-style home that was as iconic as she was, Allee Willis built her life around a vivid, unapologetically bold persona. Her home, a vibrant and eclectic space, was not just a place of residence but a living canvas that inspired her creative process. As much a part of her identity as the music she created, her eccentric world served as the stage for some of Hollywood’s most epic gatherings. Yet beneath this captivating, magnetic surface lay a woman privately grappling with feelings of isolation, constantly aware of her outsider status in an industry that never quite knew how to define her.

The World According to Allee Willis, directed by Alexis Manya Spraic, is a vibrant tribute that unearths the many layers of Willis’s life, giving audiences a look at the personal journey of a woman who turned every challenge into art. The film opens with a kaleidoscope of footage spanning Willis’s life, from her early years in 1950s Detroit to the dynamic career that eventually followed. Long before influencer was a household term, Willis documented her world in journals, photos, and tapes—a lifelong habit Spraic brilliantly weaves into the narrative. The film’s unique storytelling techniques, such as the use of personal recordings and interviews with friends and collaborators, create a narrative that feels like flipping through a swirling artifact that’s equal parts scrapbook and self-portrait, pieced together by Willis herself.

The heart of the documentary beats to the rhythm of Willis’s music. Her hits, including Earth, Wind & Fire’s September and Boogie Wonderland and the theme to the hit TV show Friends, I’ll Be There for You, have become part of the soundtrack of our lives. And then there’s her Tony-winning work on The Color Purple, which cemented her place in cultural history as an artist who could truly work in multiple areas of the industry. The World According to Allee Willis reminds us how many of her songs—each an earworm of its own—have permeated pop culture. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Willis remains relatively under the radar; her name is rarely recognized even as her music has sold over 60 million records and earned her a spot in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Spraic’s film seeks to rectify that, spotlighting Willis’s often-overlooked contributions and solidifying her rightful place in entertainment history.

Going into the documentary, I had only a casual awareness of Willis’s legacy.  Of course, I knew September and the Friends theme (I did go to a high school dance or two and was a Must See TV devotee), but the sheer scope of her influence astonished me.  Though you could view Willis’s story as proof positive of the power of resilience and reinvention, darkness ran through much of her work.  Hers was a life of contrasts: she was a jubilant creator who used her art to push back against the limitations society placed on her, all while wrestling with her own internal conflicts and personal relationships.

Willis’s story is humbling, showing a woman who threw herself into her work to carve out her identity, often at the cost of personal peace.  The World According to Allee Willis delves into her complicated relationship with gender norms and sexuality and how these struggles informed her creative output. Watching this film, I was wholly captivated by Willis’s ability to channel her sadness, isolation, and relentless curiosity about life into a body of work that resonates on a profound level.  Going back and listening to the lyrics of Boogie Wonderland, as Willis tells us in voice-over narration, reminds us that the party anthem with a killer hook has a narrator struggling with self-acceptance.

I appreciated the commitment to telling Willis’s story in full, the highs and lows. Her relationship with partner Prudence Fenton is especially moving, portrayed as the catalyst that helped her embrace her authentic self. Fenton’s influence shines through as a stabilizing force in Willis’s life (she’s an executive producer of the film), ultimately helping her find acceptance. This love story is as significant to Willis’s journey as her professional achievements, giving the documentary an emotional depth that feels real and raw. Spraic captures this beautifully, seamlessly interweaving Willis’s professional triumphs with her personal growth to create a narrative that’s inspiring yet heartbreakingly human.

Technically, The World According to Allee Willis is a masterclass in editing (by Spencer Bakalar, Carla Roda, and Spraic) and pacing. Spraic’s patchwork of interviews with cultural icons like Cyndi Lauper, Paul Reubens, Lily Tomlin, and Patti LaBelle, offer perspective on Willis’s impact. Combined with a massive mountain of personal footage and recordings, these interviews create a sense of natural momentum that sweeps the viewer through Willis’s extraordinary achievements, disappointments, and pivotal moments that redefined her sense of self. As the documentary builds toward its emotional climax, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of everything Willis accomplished—and everything she sacrificed along the way. The editing is precise and purposeful, each cohesive scene contributing to a final statement that feels as eclectic and colorful as Willis herself.

I walked away from this documentary admiring Willis’s contributions to the musical and cultural landscape. Her versatility and influence are staggering, spanning genres and generations. From Broadway hits to collaborations with some of the industry’s most iconic figures, Willis, who sadly died of an aortic aneurysm in 2019, left a mark that will undoubtedly inspire future generations. And yet, the documentary does more than showcase her talent—it humanizes her journey, allowing audiences to connect with the person behind the larger-than-life persona. The World According to Allee Willis captures the duality of her life with such grace and empathy that it’s hard not to be deeply moved.

Though I was able to see this from home, watching it in a theater, surrounded by others, would be a fitting communal celebration of a woman who lived life in full, vibrant color.  With one-night-only screenings nationwide on November 19, this film demands to be seen on the big screen. If you live in MN, check it out starting Friday, November 15, at St. Michael Cinema and Landmark’s Lagoon on Wednesday, November 20.  For those who can’t catch it in theaters, it will be available digitally on November 22. As Willis herself might say, this is her final masterpiece, crafted precisely as she would have wanted—and what a glorious tribute it is.