The film ‘Michael’ debuts with a critical 30% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, being described as “rotten” for avoiding the artist’s controversies. Antoine Fuqua’s production is noted for prioritizing a superficial and sweetened tribute over a deep exploration of the most complex aspects of the King of Pop.
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The implacable verdict of specialized critics
The film project headed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson – the singer’s nephew – faces a gloomy outlook after its first screenings. The rating obtained on Rotten Tomatoes places the work in unfavorable territory, where less than a third of specialists give their support. This initial reception raises alarm bells about the execution of one of the most anticipated biopics of the decade, evidencing a disconnection between technical ambition and narrative honesty.
Although the recreation of iconic moments and great musical hits promised an immersive experience, the final result is perceived as a structure protected by the interests of the artist’s estate. The film limits itself to a chronology of successes, systematically omitting the episodes that fractured Jackson’s public reputation.
Voices of experts before a complacent tribute
The reviews collected by the main media in the film sector agree on the script’s lack of substance. Neil Pond emphasizes that the film aims to establish an unalterable image of the star, ignoring the process of isolation and the loss of prestige that Jackson suffered in his final years. From his perspective, the play feels adrift in a “Neverland” manufactured for commercial convenience.
For her part, Tina Kakadelis, from Beyond the Cinerama Dome, highlights a worrying trend in the biographical genre: the outright refusal to confront the reality of the protagonists. This view is reinforced by Brian Eggert of Deep Focus Review, who calls the proposal “blindly reverential” and “woefully inadequate.” For Eggert, the film not only fails to explain the man behind the myth, but also highlights how problematic and strange the story of Michael Jackson remains to the public.
Technical flashes in the face of lack of depth
Despite the general rejection of the narrative structure, there are individual elements that have managed to evade critical shipwreck:
- Interpretation by Jaafar Jackson: The young actor manages to capture the spirit and gestures of his uncle with remarkable precision.
- Juliano Valdi: His work as the child version of the artist brings genuine energy to the first acts of the film.
- Musical sequences: The strength of the choreographic numbers and the interpretations of the hits keep the artistic legacy alive, functioning as isolated pieces of high visual value.
However, these successes do not compensate for a montage that is perceived as excessively controlled and lacking creative risk.
Expectation of the premiere and public support
The industry now sets its sights on Thursday, April 23, the date of the massive premiere in markets such as Peru. Historically, the gap between specialized critics and the general audience has allowed productions disapproved by experts to achieve significant box office successes. The final verdict will fall on ‘Thriller’ fans, who will have to decide if they accept Fuqua’s celebratory vision or if they align themselves with the disapproval of analysts who demanded a more human and less idealized portrait.
