Marlon Wayans Defends Sports-Horror Hybrid ‘Him’ Amid Poor Reviews

In the face of lukewarm reviews, Marlon Wayans is emphatically endorsing his latest cinema venture ‘Him’, a sports-horror hybrid. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 28%, which by industry standards is not particularly impressive. Nevertheless, Wayans seized the opportunity on September 19, which was the film’s premiere day, to voice out on Instagram. He urged his followers to put aside critics’ viewpoints and experience the film firsthand themselves.

‘Just to set the record straight. . . I hold a deep respect for critics. They have roles to play in analyzing and evaluating,’ Wayans commented. ‘Their efforts contribute significantly to the molding of our industry. Nevertheless, a single view doesn’t constitute a popular one. Certain films are ahead of their time, and it takes time for people to recognize their genius.

Innovation often confronts resistance, and understanding art is very personal and depends greatly on individual taste. Over my career, I’ve been involved with numerous projects that initially did not capture the critics’ approval but subsequently proved themselves as masterpieces. Hence, I implore viewers not to rely solely on others’ perspectives, but rather see and decide for themselves. My warmest regards to everyone. You can now watch ‘Him’ in theaters.’

Included in the Instagram post were snapshots of low Rotten Tomatoes ratings of some of Wayans’ other projects. These were films like ‘White Chicks’, ‘Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood’, ‘Scary Movie’, ‘Scary Movie 2’, and ‘A Haunted House’. Despite the critical scorn, these movies managed to amass commercial success or, in some cases, gather a band of cult followers.

The narrative of ‘Him’ follows the journey of a young and promising quarterback (Tyriq Withers), who is looking to make his mark in the NFL. He is fortunate to be mentored by a renowned player (played by Marlon Wayans) who passes on his wisdom about achieving success and advancing in the intense, competitive league.

Unfortunately, the path towards greatness in the field proves far from simple or straightforward. It involves multiple sacrifices, some figurative and others quite literal, to truly establish oneself in the professional football world. The suspense and horror elements interwoven with sports make ‘Him’ an unusual and potentially groundbreaking film.

Wayans’ advocacy for the film and his appeal for audience members to form their own judgment instead of relying on critics resonates with the belief that artistic creations should be judged by individual perception. His Instagram post brings to focus the subjectivity of art and the need for independence when forming an opinion about a creative piece.

The retrospective view of his past works, which were initially not greeted enthusiastically by critics but later triumphed as cult classics or commercial hits, reinforces the time-worn truth that initial reception is not always a definitive gauge of a film’s true value.

The story of ‘Him’, with its young protagonist making a bid for a successful career in the NFL under the nurturing watch of a seasoned pro (played by Wayans), brings to light the struggle and sacrifice that often goes unnoticed off the field.

The definitively chilling aspects of the film combined with the harsh realities of professional sports promise a genre-blend not commonly explored. ‘Him’ perhaps underlines the notion of innovation that Wayans consistently emphasizes in his defense of the movie.

Moreover, the inclusion of other well-loved Wayans’ movies like ‘Scary Movie’, ‘Scary Movie 2’, ‘A Haunted House’, ‘Don’t be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood’, and the particularly popular ‘White Chicks’ in the Instagram post impels a reconsideration of the way popular and critical receptions often diverge.

These movies, despite their low initial ratings, proved to be either commercial successes or cult favorites, underscoring Wayans’ point regarding the delayed but eventual recognition of innovative movies.

Ultimately, with ‘Him’ Wayans once again challenges industry norms and movie genre boundaries, pushing his audience to leave their comfort zone and to challenge their own understanding of cinema.

Set against the backdrop of arguably one of the most competitive professional sports in America, ‘Him’ promises a cinematic experience that will defy critics, invite reflection, and perhaps, like previous Wayans’ projects, cement its place as a classic in due time.