The highly anticipated movie “Malcolm & Marie,” starring John David Washington and Zendaya, is on Netflix. Despite its hype, many people are unsure of what to think of it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGZmwsK58M8]

What Critics Are Saying

The movie starts with Malcolm (Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) coming home to their secluded, 70s-esque home after Malcolm’s newest film’s premiere. Immediately, the couple gets into an argument because Malcolm neglected to acknowledge Marie during his speech from earlier that night.

The setting, paired with the raw black-and-white film, may lead audiences to believe that this is a period piece. But don’t be fooled. Malcolm and Marie” is as ‘new era’ as it gets. During the fight, the two discuss timeless topics like appreciation and Black experiences. Throw in some love, toxic love to be exact and you have an undeniably 21st-century air.

There is no question that the acting and cinematography are worthy of praise. However, it is what the couple said during the nearly 2-hour argument that critics have gripes with.

Before the fight ensues, Malcolm discusses Black artists’ work and white critics’ perception of said work. The point he made was valid. The media usually pigeonholes Black art into race and societal impact. However, reviewers note that this monologue, and the rest of the movie, brushstroke over essential topics that deserve more introspection.

Critics have also raised the concern that director Sam Levinson used black characters as puppets to portray his own life. After his last film, “Assassination Nation,” an LA Times writer wrote a not-so-great review of the film. In this movie, Malcolm fixates on one LA Times writer who he “can’t stand for her lack of depth”, as he says.

Maybe That’s The Point?

Ironically, the critics in real life seem more like the critics mentioned in the movie. This is a time when Black experiences are often only visible through generational-curse storylines. Malcolm and Marie serve as a breath of fresh air. Just like Malcolm’s own movie, the black-and-white drama isn’t meant to have some profound societal value. Instead, it showcases a realistic back-and-forth dispute between one couple trying to work through topics that are even sometimes too daunting to discuss off-screen. And just like in real life, their points don’t have clear conclusions.

All in all, “Malcolm & Marie” is definitely worth the watch, but it is up to viewers to decide if it was worth the wait.