“MICHAEL” Thrills Fans

“Michael” the movie, directed by Antoine Fuqua, opened in theaters in April and tells the story of Michael Jackson’s rise to stardom, from his days with the Jackson 5 to his transformative sixth studio album Thriller. 

Michael Jackson, long regarded as the “King of Pop,” sold over 300 million records worlwide, and the movie audience loved the soundtrack filled with Jackson’s hits.  The songs helped the movie win a 97% audience approval rating. It made big money and grossed an estimated $577 million globally in the first three weeks, according to Deadline. That made it the second grossing biopic of all time beyond Bohemian Rhapsody.  

The joy in the music  at the center of the film resonates deeply with longtime fans. Urban Assembly of Performing Arts teacher, and longtime MJ fan LeShawn Edwards, said “[the movie] was something we needed at a time like this. It reminded me of a time when life was simpler and happier, just 2 hours of singing and dancing, away from reality,” she continued saying “ I want to see it again.”  

But others feel the movie left much to be desired. It got only a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling the film lackluster or generic. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw describes the movie as “a frustratingly shallow, inert picture, a kind of cruise-ship entertainment.” He gave the film two out of five stars.

The film stars Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the role of Michael. Critics and audiences are calling his performance a highlight of the film, 

I’ve been a fan of Michael Jackson (MJ) since, what seems like, the womb.   I grew up in a household where Motown and R&B, Jackson’s hits served as a soundtrack of not only my life but as the soundtrack for a culture.  So, to say I was excited to see the film would be an understatement. I watched as the audience around me lip-synced and tapped along to their favorite songs. A lot of the movie focused on Michael’s early triumphs. It felt like a true celebration of the Kings’ legacy. 

The movie immediately immerses you in Michael Jackson’s style and splendor from the silver socks to the trill of the stars famous “hee hee.” These details were executed in such a meticulous way that it was hard not to get swept away with the extravagant musical numbers. But I couldn’t help but think, is that all? The plot didn’t go very deep. 

The film is filled with praise for the artist’s talent and legacy yet it seems to only graze the surface of the personal aspects of Jackson’s life. Rolling Stone  reported that director Anthony Fuqua made it clear that he didn’t include the sexual abuse allegations because it presented in his words a, “gigantic legal liability.” 

The lack of a complete biography was okay with a lot of fans. “It’s a good accessible way to learn about Michael Jackson.” City College of New York (CCNY) student Donnell Wiggins said. He wasn’t necessarily a Jackson fan before seeing the movie, but looked forward to seeing it and wasn’t disappointed. “It’s one of the movies … I knew I was going to have fun with.” He said his one critique, “I wish it was longer,” he said. 

Alondra Salas, another CCNY student said, “I thought that the way they handled a lot of the topics was very respectful,” and “I think MJ fans will continue to recommend this movie.” When asked about the negative critical reaction she said, “I understand where they were coming from, like they were expecting more from the movie.” 

“[the movie] made me think that maybe I really could leave my mark on the world,” said cinema enthusiast Aayan Asghar. “I’m not sure if it’ll be impactful toward the future. Honestly, I have no clue. But all I can say is it was impactful to me.” 

Fans may cheer. A sequel is in the works according to Vanity Fair and while producers aren’t giving up the story line, it will have more music. The success of the recent film made one thing clear: fans all over the world are still thrilled by Michael.

*Creative Commons License for the Michael Jackson photo can be found here.