Reviews – 26/2

Bob Marley: One Love  7/10

Biopics are always a hit or miss with some viewers sharing their appreciation for the work whilst others drag it through the mud. It seems as though “Bob Marley: One Love” was not exempt from these mixed responses. 

Some positive reviews have exclaimed that the lead, Kingsley Ben-Adir, did well playing the role of Bob Marley and that he had the screen presence to really carry this project. The supporting actress, Lashana Lynch, has also been praised for her performance as Bob marley’s wife, Rita. One person stated that “…both Bob and Rita are presented as complex and multi-layered characters and represent the clay that Kingsely and Lashana moulded beautifully with their work.”  

Additionally, for many people, this biopic was incredibly entertaining. One person suggested that “critics aren’t really that familiar with Marley or what he was about and how his music had such a positive impact on people globally”, thus why the film has been rated quite poorly. Many people, including fans of the musical icon himself, have shared how they felt that the film was compelling and emotional, capturing the story of Bob Marley, his struggles and journey striving for a better, peaceful world. 

On a different note, some viewers felt like the story didn’t truly capture an in-depth iteration of Bob Marley’s life, rather focusing more on what his music brought to the world than the man himself. People felt like the story remained very surface-level and generic, with nothing really standing out. Many Bob Marley fans are upset, stating that while the acting is great, the story is “dull with no soul”, which is harmful to the legacy of the artist. 

Some people have also exclaimed that the film was “dull” and “vanilla”, and didn’t provide a good enough story to equate to the man that Bob Marley was. Biopics are always tricky like this, and many feel that this one falls into the category of ‘typical Hollywood biographies’ that fail to truly explore the life of the star.