Musical biopics can deliver some rousing cinematic feats. Not only can they appease fans of classic artists, but they can also inform them about the artists’ lives. The finished results can be bountiful in the right films (Straight Outta Compton (2015); Get on Up (2014); Walk the Line (2005)). In other films, that emotional and personal impact can be sorely lacking. The latest music biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, tackles a beloved musician, Bob Marley. With songs that deeply resonate with fans, his story deserves a proper big-screen adaption. Unfortunately, Bob Marley: One Love ends up missing the mark for honoring his legacy.
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE from Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Clocking in with a 104-minute running time, the film suffers from a sporadic pace. Jumping between different years in Marley’s life makes the story difficult to follow. When the film begins, Bob is already the superstar we know him to be. For non-Marley fans, this can defeat the purpose of the film altogether. Viewers like myself might be familiar with certain facets of Marley’s story, but not the whole thing. That makes key moments (as I learned after my viewing) have a significantly lesser emotional impact. The real fault of the film has to fall on an incredibly jumbled screenplay.
L-R: Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, Anna-Sharé Blake as Judy Mowatt, Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, and Naomi Cowan as Marcia Griffiths in BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE from Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
It is written by four different screenwriters: Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire; The Wolf of Wall Street), Frank E. Flowers (Haven), Zach Baylin (King Richard; Creed III; Gran Turismo), and One Love’s director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard). Having these four different writers is a curse over a blessing, resulting in an unfocused narrative structure. The film has much to say about Marley’s impact on the world around him. In theory, that should deliver a story with thought-provoking themes and ideas. Those ideas are delivered effectively over brief moments in the story. The finished product feels like an underwhelming slog with one saving grace. The performances help to elevate the story’s scattered and oftentimes messy timeline of events.
L-R: Gawaine ‘J-Summa’ Campbell as Antonio ‘Gillie’ Gilbert, Stefan Wade as Seeco Patterson, Sheldon Shepherd as Neville Garrick, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE from Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
If there’s any reason to see Bob Marley: One Love, it’s the lead performance by Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night In Miami…; Secret Invasion; Barbie). Ben-Adir balances two very difficult feats in this performance. Firstly, he perfectly conveys Marley’s lackadaisical charm, which hides his true genius. He truly had a way with his lyrics that connected with anyone who listened to him. The central performance accurately portrays this, honoring the essence of this towering figure. The same can be said for the performance of Bob’s wife and backup vocalist, Rita Marley (Lashanna Lynch). The role requires her to be Bob’s conscience, which she does to an impressive degree. She shines brightest when she is able to call Marley out on his rage and insecurities. Lynch (007: No Time to Die) sells those scenes, even though they repeat themselves over the runtime.
L-R: Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley in BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE from Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Besides Ben-Adir’s performance, there is one other massive positive for Bob Marley: One Love. The film’s few concert sequences offer a surprising, fun, and joyous jolt of electricity. If there’s a reason to see the film, it’s to see these concert sequences in premium formats. Having seen the film in Regal’s RPX (Regal Premium Experience), it massively enhances the experience. When those moments are not occurring, the film also struggles with a lack of subtitles. With thick (but historically accurate) Jamaican accents, the dialogue can be difficult to decipher. In some instances (especially in the later half), that makes heavy emotional moments feel weightless. This makes it difficult to attach to Marley’s goal of being a peacekeeper in a turbulent era.
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE from Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Bob Marley: One Love struggles under the weight of massive ambitions. At its core, the story wants to convey Bob’s goal to bring peace through his music. Kingsley Ben-Adir accurately portrays that ambition, delivering moments of joy on screen. Those ambitions exceed the film’s grasp with its frustrating narrative structure. Not only does it lessen the impact of performances (like Lashanna Lynch’s), but it keeps viewers from learning about this towering figure. No matter the quality of the lead performance, the finished product left quite mixed results. In a film being sold as a “biopic” on Bob Marley’s life, it leaves many more questions than answers.
In theaters February 14th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Paramount Pictures Bob Marley: One Love website.
Final Score: 2 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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