Michael and What's Making Us Happy

In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, hosts Stephen Thompson, Aisha Harris, and Trayvel Anderson discuss the new biopic 'Michael,' a glossy, performance-driven film about Michael Jackson's rise from childhood in Gary, Indiana, through his peak in the late 1980s. The movie, led by Jafar Jackson’s portrayal of Michael and supported by most of the Jackson family as executive producers, avoids all controversy surrounding Jackson’s legal issues and sexual abuse allegations, sparking debate over its omission and its role as an 'authorized' narrative. The panel critiques the film as a seductive but hollow jukebox musical that prioritizes nostalgia and iconic performances over depth, character development, or psychological insight. They express disappointment in the lack of exploration into Jackson’s genius, the underwritten mother character, and the one-dimensional portrayal of Joseph Jackson, while questioning the film’s commercial motives and potential for a sequel. Despite its flaws, the film succeeds in evoking concert-like energy. In the 'What’s Making Us Happy' segment, Trayvel celebrates Vanessa Williams’ TikTok performances as Miranda Priestly in the London musical version of *The Devil Wears Prada*, while Aisha recommends the emotionally resonant debut film *Blue Heron* by Sophie Romvari. Stephen shares his joy in discovering the nostalgic digital archive MTV Rewind, which recreates the original MTV experience through its YouTube-based video library.