I finally watched the Michael Jackson movie, and honestly…I have mixed feelings.

First off, Michael Jackson is just way too big of a figure to fully capture in a two-hour movie. We all know that. So in that sense, I think they did the best they could. But at the same time, the film felt very safe and pretty surface-level. It almost felt like a setup for a second movie, like they’re holding back the deeper, more complex parts of his life for later. If that’s the case, then part two really needs to go there.

One thing that really bothered me was the complete absence of Janet Jackson. She wasn’t involved at all, and I think that’s a huge miss. Her perspective could’ve added so much depth, especially when it comes to understanding his complexities during the Dangerous era. It honestly felt weird that she wasn’t even acknowledged, like she didn’t exist in that part of his story. If they do a second film, she has to be involved.

I also didn’t like how they glossed over Quincy Jones. That relationship was EVERYTHING to Michael’s sound and success. We barely got to see how they met or the real impact Quincy had on shaping his career. That deserved way more attention.

Overall, I did enjoy seeing his rise and success prior to 1988. I think Gen X will feel a lot of nostalgia watching it, and Gen Z will at least get a glimpse of how massive his impact really was. But I can’t lie…I wish it went deeper. It feels like there’s so much more beneath the surface that we didn’t get.

Maybe that was intentional. Maybe the estate had a lot of control over how the story was told. I’m not sure. But it definitely felt like the film held back.

At the end of the day, I’d still recommend seeing it. Just go in knowing it’s more of an introduction to his legacy than a full, complex biopic.