It’s incredible to think that it took this long for Michael Jackson, the late “King of Pop” who died two months shy of his 51st birthday in 2009, to be the subject of a big-screen biopic (in IMAX, no less). Unfortunately, the mono-monikered “Michael” (Universal/Lionsgate), directed by Antoine Fuqua, with a screenplay by gay writer John Logan, comes off as nothing more than a glorified Lifetime movie.
Spanning a 22-year period that extends from Gary, Indiana to Southern California, “Michael” tells a familiar tale with which his fans from the early years, as well as the children and grandchildren of those folks, are probably well-acquainted. His steel-mill worker father Joseph (gay actor Colman Domingo) claimed to want a better life for his young sons Jackie (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, and Joseph David-Jones as an adult), Tito (Judah Edwards, and Rhyan Hill as an adult), Jermaine (Jayden Harville, and Jamal R. Henderson as an adult), Marlon (Jaylen Lydon Hunter, and Tre Horton as an adult), Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi, and Jaafar Jackson as an adult), and daughter La Toya (Jessica Sula). Sadly, he was more abusive, especially with Michael, than he was well-intentioned. Particularly because he also hoped to reap the benefits of a profitable family musical act.
What follows is a portrait of the brothers’ rise to fame, mostly propelled by Michael’s undeniable talent which impressed Motown Records’ Suzanne de Passe (Laura Harrier) so much that she gives Joseph her business card. Recording sessions with Berry Gordy (Larenz Tate), live and TV appearances, and concerts came next. All the while Joseph continued to make Michael’s life miserable. Fortunately, Michael had his mother Katherine (Nia Long) and his security guard Bill (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) to work interference.
“Michael” incorporates many trademark moments. There is lonely Jackson’s relationship with his animal friends, including a llama and CGI chimp Bubbles, his multi-platinum-selling solo career, MTV breakthrough and his lasting influence on the music video art form, the shocking transformation of his facial features, and more.
Ultimately, it’s Jaafar Jackson’s riveting performance that is the only reason to see “Michael.” The son of Jermaine, Michael is a role that Jaafar was born to play, and he gives it everything he’s got. From the intonation of his speaking voice to his physical presence, including facial expressions, the actor becomes the embodiment of his uncle. So much so that it’s hard to imagine another actor, especially one making his film debut, doing the role justice.
That said, the movie ends in 1988, with Jackson having survived both Joseph (Michael fires him via fax) and the terrifying accidental igniting of his hair during the making of a Pepsi commercial. However, the worst was yet to come for Michael, including his declining record sales, as well as the scandal that plagued him for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, the dreaded words, “His story continues,” flash on the screen before the closing credits, possibly signaling that a sequel is already in the pipeline.
Rating: C-
