So, We’re Not Allowed to Criticize the Michael Jackson Biopic?

Publicly criticizing Michael means recognizing two things: The film, inspired by the early life and career of Michael Jackson, will rake in millions of dollars (it had the highest opening ever for a music biopic), and many viewers will gloss over the movie’s flaws to fanatically defend it.

If this were simply the familiar disconnect between critics and the general audience, then perhaps it wouldn’t warrant much attention. But something more troubling is at play. The knee-jerk reaction to admonish anyone for pointing out the ways in which Michael falls short is indicative of an entertainment industry knee-deep in a nostalgic slop era, and the decline of critical thinking has only compounded the problem.