Don’t Stop ’Til You Rewrite History

As I write this, no less than 15 Michael Jackson songs populate Apple Music’s Top 100 Global chart—more than any other musician. MJ stands apart in this feat; there are virtually no other legacy acts on the chart. This stupendous bump is thanks to Michael, the new family-approved biopic in which Jaafar Jackson cosplays his uncle during MJ’s rise to solo superstardom.

After seeing the film, it makes sense why Jackson’s catalog is surging again. Really the only appeal of Michael lies in its meticulous recreation of certain famous performances, like the Motown 25 debut of the Moonwalk and the “Thriller” video. Everything about it is intended to make you believe you are watching Michael Jackson himself, from the shooting locations and costumes to the choreography. And the songs are central to selling this dream, often running at length.

Jafaar Jackson is adequate as Michael mainly through his musical performances (and ongoing facial changes). Watching him teach his dancers the routine at the end of the “Beat It” video, Jafaar’s hip movements are more fluid, a body roll rather than an MJ thrust, and my immediate thought was not “he’s doing wrong,” but “he’s doing it better.” With Michael, I got this uncanny sense that I was seeing something smoother, hollower, and more over-the-top than the real MJ.