METRO
Victoria Beckham never really shies away from the spotlight. But in her new self-titled Netflix documentary her vulnerability is laid bare.
But it isn¿t all vain promotion for her luxury brand.
Victoria is deeply personal throughout all three episodes, detailing everything from misogyny she¿s faced in her career, to massive financial woes within her business where she was left ¿millions in the red¿, and an eating disorder.
Victoria isn¿t playing around about her past and far she¿s come. There¿s a sense of being incredibly in touch with her privilege.
THE INDEPENDENT
The three-part series follows the template of numerous celeb-fronted documentaries aired in recent years, including that of Victoria¿s own spouse.
The production is slick, the roster of stars, wheeled in to provide testimony as to Victoria’s perseverance and dedication, impressive; Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Tom Ford and Eva Longoria all add star power.
The overwrought attempt to paint Victoria as some sort of scrappy underdog who made it as a designer against all odds is, however, a tough pill to swallow.
After all, this is the ultimate ‘riches to riches’ narrative a famous popstar married a famous footballer and pulled herself up by her bootstraps by using her extensive wealth and existing network of high-profile contacts to launch a now-successful fashion line.
(One which, it must be noted, previously needed bailing out to the tune of £23m by her husband.)
FINANCIAL TIMES
There are a few talking points. Discussions about the brand¿s lossmaking days, when David began to question his investments, are frank, and at times border on the ridiculous.
Financial partner David Belhassen reveals that when he looked at the brand¿s then precarious books, he discovered a £70,000 annual bill for office houseplants, and a separate £15,000 charge for someone to water them.
Nobody, says Beckham, in a rare moment of insight, felt as if they could tell her ¿no¿. Overall, this is professional and slick, with little in it to ruffle anyone¿s feathers.
Victoria Beckham is keen to point out that contrary to popular belief, she does smile.
THE TELEGRAPH
The bits where Victoria talks about her past are engaging. She’s smart and knows how to come up with a memorable line.
‘I buried those boobs in Baden-Baden’ cannot be beaten as a reference to having her breast implants removed as a way of distancing herself from her old WAG-tastic look at the 2006 World Cup.
She also covers serious subjects, including childhood bullying and an eating disorder.
THE GUARDIAN
Buried in this meticulously curated, extremely boring account of V Beckham¿s rise and rise is a more interesting one about how we find our calling in life, how we come to know ourselves, what it means to have a creative urge and the joy that comes when you find the way to express yours.
Beckham¿s face lights up when she recalls learning her trade from Mouret, and when she is pinning outfits in the studio or putting together looks for the models.
With her colleagues she moves differently, confidently; she relaxes in some ineffable but profound way, knowing she is in the right place, doing the right thing.
The childhood urge to perform has found its true expression in designing beautiful clothes.
VARIETY
Beckham¿s ability in the fifth decade of her life to be honest and self-reflective is compelling. Our patriarchal society says beautiful women with families and wealth should feel lucky. The pop icon offers a different perspective.
She is frank about harboring ambitions beyond being a wife and mother, and how her unhappiness was outwardly manifested during her years as a WAG.
People often don¿t consider how young the Beckhams were during their heyday, trying to build a relationship in the public eye.
Now, 27 years later, the series showcases a couple who are still deeply committed, connected, and refreshingly considerate of one another. It¿s a rarity in normie relationships, even more so among A-listers.
Ultimately, ¿Victoria Beckham¿ may not deliver exactly what audiences expect when they tune in initially. However, the narrative presented is far more thoughtful than the standard celebrity docuseries.
The show allows Beckham to tell us who she is on her terms, which, even amid all of her accolades and privilege, is a formidable undertaking.
