Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ gets low ratings but Jaafar Jackson’s performance wins hearts

The new biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is getting early reviews and they are mostly negative. The film stars Jaafar Jackson, who is the nephew of Michael Jackson. The movie got a very low 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at release, which later increased slightly to 31%, as noted by Hindustan Times.

The rating is based on 61 critic reviews, and most of them are negative. Many critics said the film is not handled well and does not fully show Michael Jackson’s life story. Some reviews also said the ending hints at a sequel instead of finishing the story properly.

Critics strongly criticise the film

TheWrap called the movie “frustrating” and said it feels like it avoids serious topics, as per TheWrap review via Hindustan Times. The review said the film “picks very few battles” and does not feel like a real story.

IGN gave a very harsh review, calling the film “really, really bad”. IGN said the movie feels flat and emotionless, focusing only on famous moments instead of real depth.

BBC gave the film just 1 out of 5 stars. BBC said the story moves in a simple timeline and stops in the mid-1980s, missing major later events. The BBC also said the film avoids controversial topics, including serious allegations, making it less dramatic.

Some positive reactions

Not all reviews were negative — some critics praised the film. Variety praised Jaafar Jackson’s performance. Variety said Jaafar perfectly copied Michael’s look, voice, and dance moves. The review also said he showed the soft and strong sides of Michael Jackson very well. Screen Rant called the film “masterful”. ScreenRant praised the casting, costumes, and concert scenes in the movie.

Questlove’s “Michael” review

Questlove watched the film early and shared his thoughts. He said he was nervous before watching because he is a big Michael Jackson fan, as reported by Billboard. After watching, he said the film shows Michael Jackson as a real human, not just a superstar. Questlove admitted he noticed mistakes in timeline and details at first. But later, he said he ignored those errors because the film captured Michael’s soul and emotions. He said showing humanity is more important than small factual mistakes. Questlove liked the film so much that he plans to watch it again many times.

“Michael” film release date

The movie follows Michael Jackson’s life from Jackson 5 days to the ‘Bad’ album era (1987). Other actors include Kat Graham (as Diana Ross), Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Kendrick Sampson. The film is set to release in theatres on April 24.

Overall, the film is getting mostly negative reviews from critics. But Jaafar Jackson’s acting is widely praised, as per Hindustan Times. Some people like Questlove feel the film is good because it shows Michael Jackson’s human side.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Rotten Tomatoes rating of the movie Michael?

The movie Michael has a low rating of around 27%–31% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Q2. Who plays Michael Jackson in the biopic Michael?

Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, plays the lead role.