Critics Consensus

Critics Consensus: This Is It Is Certified Fresh

Plus, Boondock Saints sins, and The House of the Devil chills.

by Tim Ryan | October 29, 2009 | Comments

This week at the movies brings only one wide release: the hotly-anticipated performance documentary Michael Jackson’s This Is It, which captures the King of Pop in rehearsals for what was to be a comeback tour. What do the critics have to say?

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Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Before its release, it was difficult to escape the notion that Michael Jackson’s This Is It was little more than a cynical cash-grab — an attempt to strike at the wallets of the great star’s fans after his death precluded a potentially lucrative concert tour. Such concerns may have been unwarranted, however; now that the film’s actually here, the critics say it’s an intriguing portrait of the artist at work, and a reminder of Jackson‘s protean talents, as well as a farewell gift to fans. High School Musical helmer Kenny Ortega crafted this feature from more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage for Jackson’s comeback tour. The pundits say that if the Certified Fresh This Is It is short on revelations, it’s got plenty of electrifying performances, and it provides an interesting look at the King of Pop’s working methods.

Also opening this week in limited release:

Skin, starring Sophie Okonedo and Sam Neill in the based-on-a-true-story of a black woman raised by white parents in Apartheid-era South Africa, is at 89 percent.
The House of the Devil, a throwback to 1980s-style horror flicks about a coed babysitter who gets in over her head, is at 84 percent.
Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, Troy Duffy‘s follow-up to the 2000 cult hit starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus, is at 25 percent.
Jared Hess‘ Gentlemen Broncos, about a creative writing novice whose story is ripped off by a famous sci-fi author, is at 13 percent.