If anyone in the room cared about the King of Pop’s past scandals, there was no indication of it during Monday night’s LA premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic.
The debut of Lionsgate’s “Michael” drew more sequin jackets than I could count, dozens of fedoras, and I even heard a few “hee-hees” shouted from my perch on the balcony at the Dolby Theatre, where press was seated. Among the attendees were the film’s cast including Miles Teller, Nia Long, Colman Domingo and Mike Myers, plus Usher, Howie Mandel, Chance the Rapper and Jon Voight.
Lionsgate wisely packed the orchestra section with the King of Pop’s biggest fans, ensuring the crowd would be appropriately enthusiastic. (Aside from the 3,300 people at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre next door was filled with an additional 900 fans.)
And it worked: from the moment the lights dimmed in the theater, it felt more like a rock concert than a premiere, with rapturous applause every time the film unleashed one of MJ’s top hits (“Thriller” earned particular fanfare.) During the “Bad” sequence, I actually worried that a small earthquake was happening, before realizing that the place was shaking as my fellow audience members were busting some moves from their seats. “I’ll Be There” played over the credits, triggering a joyous impromptu sing-along from the entire audience.
Even the usher in my section got in on the act. “I just hope that my uncle, Michael, is smiling from up above,” Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew who portrays him in the film, told the crowd. “Yes he is!” the usher yelled back.
A lively afterparty at the nearby Roosevelt offered themed MJ drinks like the “Moonwalk Margarita” and “Wanna Be Sippin Somethin.”
Since the “Michael” review embargo lifted early Tuesday morning, it’s been a mixed bag among critics — The Post’s Johnny Oleksinski called it “painfully bad,” while Deadline’s Pete Hammond says the film is “a feel-good biopic MJ fans will eat up.” (I’m no reviewer myself, though I do feel inclined to add that Jafaar Jackson’s performance is simply electrifying, IMO).
But if Monday’s premiere proves anything, it’s that “Michael” isn’t a film for the critics — it’s for the fans, be they on Hollywood Boulevard or in Gary, Indiana.