I walked into MICHAEL as one of the biggest MJ fans on the planet — YouTube literally told me I'm in the top 0.05% of listeners — ready to guard his catalog with my life.
Here's the honest, no-BS truth most professional critics won't admit:
- The Screenplay's the Weak Link: It leans too hard on the father-son tension with Joseph (Colman Domingo kills it, by the way) and doesn't dig deep enough into the insane chaos of Michael's life. More friction, more layers, more of the pre-1990 madness would've made it electric.
- But the Music? Absolute Fire: Thanks to the Estate's iron grip, hearing those thriller and Bad-era tracks blast through theater speakers hits different. director Antoine Fuqua smartly made the movieabout the music — the creation, the performance, the magic. It's lathered wall-to-wall with hits, and it works.
- Jaafar Jackson Steals the Whole Film: From the mannerisms to the voice to those razor-sharp dance moves, he's uncanny. The back-half performance sequences — especially that sold-out Dodger Stadium 'Human Nature' moment — feel like Michael's spirit just walked back on stage. The thriller video recreation? Pure goosebumps. You forget you're watching a nephew; it feels like resurrection.
Look, I get why buttoned-up critics might shrug at the story. I'm not here to pretend it's perfect. But as a die-hard protector of Michael's legacy, I'm telling you: this one's emotional in the best way. It's a solid, crowd-pleasing theater experience that celebrates the genius instead of tearing him down.
Jaafar carries it on his shoulders with grace under insane pressure. If you love MJ's music even a little, go see it. You'll leave with chills — and maybe even a little more belief that the King's spirit is still very much alive.
Source: India Herald - SIBY JEYYA