'Michael' Movie Reviews Are In & Critics Are Not Impressed With Michael Jackson Biopic
The reviews for Michael are in, and they’re largely not positive.
The film, hitting theaters and IMAX on April 24, was directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
Here’s a synopsis: “Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”
Critics have begun to release their reviews following the movie’s premiere, and they’re largely not pleased.
Keep reading to find out more…
Michael has a 27% Rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes.
NewsDay gives it a 2 out of 4, and says: “Yes, the resemblance is uncanny. Yes, he can really act. As for his dancing: You’d swear the King of Pop himself had sprung back to life. The rest of the movie? Like the singer’s career and legacy, it is decidedly mixed.”
IndieWire gives it a C-, writing: “The film is tasked with covering the first 26 years of Jackson’s life and nearly two decades of his career. That’s a tough ask for any feature film, but the great leaps of time and logic that run through Michael err on the side of boring.”
RogerEbert.com gives it 1 out of 4, writing: “Antoine Fuqua might’ve had some cameras and microphones on hand to produce moving images and sound for this estate-approved King of Pop biopic. But make no mistake about it: Michael isn’t a movie. It’s a filmed playlist in search of a story.”
Rolling Stone says: “You’re reminded of the first time you heard Jackson’s music… And you’re also reminded that such things are still tainted, even if the movie twists itself into knots to avoid you thinking about such things.”
Consequence gave it a C-, writing: “This is a movie terrified to explore the interiority of its protagonist, and that approach will work just fine for the fans who just want to watch an uncomplicated ramble of a movie that plays all the hits.”
The BBC gives it 1 out of 5, writing: “The functional dialogue has all the nuance of a road sign, and the visuals are so lacking in flair that even the reconstructions of Jackson‘s groundbreaking videos and concerts are a snooze.”
The Guardian gives it a 2 out of 5, saying: “This is a frustratingly shallow, inert picture, a kind of cruise-ship entertainment, which can’t quite bring itself to show that Michael was an abuse victim, brutalised by his father and robbed of his childhood.”
ScreenCrush gives it a 4 out of 10, writing: “Depicts Michael Jackson as a moonwalking and talking human jukebox, with little in the way of a compelling story.”
AP gives it a 1.5 out of 4, writing: “The nostalgia of Michael is for more than Michael Jackson. But blindly believing only in that celebrity, in that fantasy, is repeating a sad history all over again.”
USA Today gives it a 3 out of 4, writing: “Jaafar may share his late uncle’s megawatt smile, lithe frame and Bambi eyelashes. But his liquid dance moves — highlighted as he teaches gang members the footwork in the ‘Beat It’ video — and soft-spoken cadence are studied to perfection.”
The Daily Beast says: “All Thriller, no infamy, presenting an uplifting, crowd-pleasing version of events that, for all its expert impersonations, is simply the palatable half of this sordid tale.”
The Independent says: “All Michael does is recreate, in mechanical style, the most famous visuals of Jackson’s career. It’s certainly easier that way. Why bother to depict a human being when you can simply turn them into a product?”
TheWrap writes: “It can’t be taken seriously, no matter how earnest it looks and sounds. because it’s not really a story. Maybe it used to be before the reshoots. Maybe not. Either way, now it’s just feature-length publicity, and it plays like damage control.”
The Times gave it a 1 out of 5, writing: “The narrative is an aimless Wiki-plod through Jackson’s back catalogue, first with the Jackson 5 and then his early solo career. His siblings are negligible as characters and there’s a conspicuous vacuum where Janet Jackson should have been.”
THR says: “If you’re even remotely nostalgic for the time when his songs were ubiquitous on pop charts, at parties and on dance floors worldwide, the movie will be a warm rush of transporting pleasure.”
Empire Magazine gave it a 2 out of 5, writing: “Hugely impressive musical and dance performances from the two young men playing Michael Jackson cannot shake off the uncomfortable fact that there is an entire other side to the pop star’s story which is entirely conspicuous by its absence here.”