The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, titled simply Michael, has finally moonwalked into theaters, and let’s be honest: the casting is so spot-on it’s practically supernatural. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Michael’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who doesn’t just play his uncle—he seemingly channels him from the Great Neverland in the sky. From the "Motown 25" glove reveal to the "Victory Tour" energy, the musical sequences are absolute fire, making you forget for a second that you’re sitting in a sticky cinema seat and not at the front row of Wembley in ’88.
The "Selective Memory" Script
Now, here is where the "Ayo Gorkhali" skepticism kicks in. The film covers the rise of the Jackson 5 through the peak of the Bad tour era. However, critics are already pointing out that the movie "moonwalks" around the more... complicated chapters of MJ’s life. Since the Michael Jackson Estate had a heavy hand in production, the script is a bit of a hagiography—treating the King of Pop like a divine relic rather than a flawed human. It’s a "brand exercise" that gives you all the glitz of the red carpet but stops short of the courtroom steps, ending its narrative before the major controversies of the 90s could even check in.
Joe Jackson and the Drama of Discipline
Colman Domingo steals every scene he’s in as the domineering patriarch Joe Jackson, reminding us all that before Michael was a global icon, he was a kid terrified of a belt. The film tries to frame Michael’s later eccentricities as the direct result of a stolen childhood, painting him as a "Peter Pan" who was exploited by the adults around him. It’s heavy stuff, but sometimes it feels like the movie is trying a bit too hard to make us say "Poor Michael" instead of letting the audience decide for themselves.
Too Much Chimpanzee, Not Enough Brothers?
In a classic "Old Nepal" move where the pets get better treatment than the family, the film actually gives Bubbles the Chimpanzee more meaningful screen time than some of Michael's own brothers. The other four members of the Jackson 5 are essentially relegated to background scenery, nodding along while Michael ascends to God-tier status. It’s the Michael Show, and everyone else is just lucky to be in the frame.
The Verdict: Spectacle Over Substance?
If you want to see the most technically impressive concert recreations ever put on film, this is a masterpiece. Jaafar Jackson’s performance is masterful, nailing every "Hee-Hee" and toe-stand with frightening precision. But if you’re looking for a deep, honest investigation into the man behind the mask, you might find this biopic a bit "sanitized" for the masses. It’s a 2-hour music video with high production values—a thrilling, shallow, and occasionally frustrating look at a man who remains as mysterious now as he was in 1984.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Khukuris
(5 for the Moonwalk, 0 for the Truth)