NEED TO KNOW
Marlon Wayans is encouraging fans to see Him for themselves and not rely completely on reviews.
The new thriller, from producer Jordan Peele and director and co-writer Justin Tipping, stars Wayans, 53, as mysterious football legend Isaiah White, and it currently sits at a 29% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, and has received negative reviews from The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter and more. Several other outlets described the movie as a “fumble.”
As Him hit theaters on Friday, Sept. 19, Wayans addressed the movie’s reviews on Instagram in a candid message, encouraging fans to come to their own conclusions about the film.
“Just to be clear… I respect critics. Their job is to Critique,” wrote Wayans. “I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion. Some movies are ahead of the curve,” he wrote.
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He continued, “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 [received] and those movies went on to be CLASSICS.”
“So don’t take anyone’s opinion just go see for yourself,” added Wayans. “Love to all. Him in theaters now.”
The star included several screenshots of Rotten Tomatoes pages for some of the “classic” works he referred to in his caption — movies that were either commercially successful or have since acquired cult status, from White Chicks to Scary Movie. The critic scores for the example flicks ranged from 13% to 51%.
The post received widespread support, including a message from Wayans’ Him costar Julia Fox, who commented, “What’s the opposite of a savior? A CRITIC!!!”
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The White Chicks star also reposted several fan reviews on his Instagram Stories, along with a post clarifying that he wasn’t, as one headline about his statement phrased it, clapping back at Rotten Tomatoes. “It wasn’t a clap… It was a perspective,” wrote Wayans.
The New York Times’ review of Him criticizes the film for “an over-reliance on the soundtrack” and “mostly empty stylization,” among other things. The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, claims that the movie “squanders its potential” and tries “too hard” to be disturbing.
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But the critic reviews for Him aren’t all bad. Variety’s assessment concludes: “Amid the thrills, Him gets you thinking about the sport and all that it demands, potentially making monsters of our heroes in the process. But as the saying goes: Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
Several others praise the performances of stars Wayans, Fox and Tyriq Withers, who plays the protagonist — a young football player who “descends into a world of terror when he’s invited to train with a legendary champion whose charisma curdles into something darker,” per a synopsis.
In a tribute to Withers on Instagram, Wayans said he is “proud” of the I Know What You Did Last Summer star for carrying the movie.
“I’m proud of you! You’re a star lil bro and when you get there DINNER ON YOU B*tch ALWAYS!” wrote Wayans. “So many conversations being had about this movie and that’s good. That happens when you make art.”
Him is in theaters now.
