Michael Recreates The Legend, But Lacks Soul

Michael chronicles the life of Michael Jackson from his childhood in the Jackson 5 to his rise as the King of Pop. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film is divided into distinct time periods spanning the late 1960s to the 1980s.

In a unique casting choice, MJ’s own nephew Jaafar Jackson portrays him in this biopic. Jackson delivers an uncanny performance, capturing both his uncle’s speaking voice and signature dance style perfectly. There were moments where he truly looked like MJ come back to life. It’s clear the goal of the film is to be a sanitized, rose-colored retelling of his early career, focusing on how MJ broke free from his father’s control to forge his own path as a global superstar.

The musical numbers were high-energy spectacles and easily the strongest moments in the film. Viewers will have a blast watching songs like “Beat It,” “Thriller,” and “Bad” come to life. However, the script itself is surprisingly hollow. Despite the caliber of actors surrounding Jackson, none of them are given much of an opportunity to flesh out their characters. The film is more interested in celebrating the legend rather than exploring a deeper or more nuanced look at the man behind the icon.

If you’re looking for a fresh take on the misunderstood star, I recommend MJ The Musical on Broadway. Set during MJ’s Dangerous World Tour being documented by an MTV crew, the show weaves together both joyful and difficult moments in his life in a way that feels surprisingly deep and, at times, haunting.

While Michael succeeds in recreating iconic moments from MJ’s life, it’s ultimately a serviceable but surface-level biopic.

Michael is playing now in theaters.