Marlon Wayans is the man of the hour right now thanks to his recently released, Jordan Peele-produced film “HIM.” But while he and his costars may be relishing in the excitement, for a majority of folks who’ve already seen the movie— they don’t share the same sentiments. Now, Wayans is speaking out about it.
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As we mentioned to you before, “HIM” stars Wayans and newcomer Tyriq Withers as talented football players Isaiah White and Cameron Cade, respectively. While White is nearing the end of his illustrious career, Cade is poised to be his replacement. Thanks to a freak injury that threatens his league potential, however, he’ll have to undergo a week-long intensive bootcamp at White’s house in order to prove he’s really the man people think he is. But, as with most psychological thrillers, things at the camp aren’t exactly what they seem and things go from slightly odd to downright creepy as the days go by.
Saying anymore would run the risk of spoilers, but from the trailer and various clips posted online, the film looked to be one of the most-talked about movies of the year since “Sinners” and “Weapons.” Unfortunately, based off countless Rotten Tomatoes reviews and social media posts from regular viewers: the film is definitely getting talked about, but in a negative way.
Most of the critique centers around the film’s final act that some folks say doesn’t do too good of a job of tying things all together. Some reviewers took issue with the acting from Wayans and Withers, arguing that they were both acting in two totally different films. Others felt like the film relied too heavily on the “Jordan Peele produced” aspect of it all and made people set their expectations way too high— just for them to get let down.
Regardless of their reasoning, it wasn’t something that Wayans was trying to hear and hopped on Instagram to push people to see the film to form opinions of their own.
“Just to be clear I respect critics. Their job is to Critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion,” he said in a post to Instagram over the weekend showing negative Rotten Tomatoes scores of some of his previous work like “White Chicks,” “Scary Movie,” and “Don’t Be a Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice In the Hood.”
“Some movies are ahead of the curve. Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted and it’s subjective. I’ve had a career of making classic movies that weren’t critically recieved [sic] and those movies went on to be CLASSICS,” Wayans said.
He concluded: “So don’t take anyone’s opinion just go see for yourself. Love to all. Him in theaters now.”
In the comments section, many agreed with the “Little Man” star.
“THESE MOVIES ARE PERFECTION! I will die on this hill,” wrote one user.
“All of these films are classics and Scary Movie is an absolute MASTERPIECE,” said another.
“The critics were wrong, all your films made my childhood! Absolute genius,” one other user added.
However, over on X/Twitter, others weren’t so agreeable.
“‘Him’, or Sensory Overload: The Film, wouldn’t make the peewee league. It’s a taxingly indulgent exercise in style over substance with obnoxious cinematography, weird-for-weirds-sake imagery, poor music, and a wooden Tyriq Withers. Marlon Wayans has moments, but this sucks. 2/10,” wrote one person.
“I went to go see HIM even tho people were saying it was a*s cuz idc what folks say i still gotta see for myself…now it was ass but imma still say go see it yourself lol,” said another.
Noted another: “Yes this is how I felt lmao I did think that Marlon Wayans played his role well but the movie in entirety was not good to me.”
Whether you end up loving or hating the film, there is truth to Wayans’ post: go see it and form your own opinion. That is what art is supposed to make you do at the end of the day. And the discourse is just that.
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