Slack on Flicks: ‘Him’

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - While Jordan Peele is sitting in the producer’s chair for “Him,” his directing style is all over the film.

That is one of the pros compared to the many cons within the psychological attempted thriller.

The movie focuses on an up-and-coming quarterback (played by Tyriq Withers) who gets a second chance at the career he dreamed of following a brain injury. He begins training at an isolated facility hosted by his idol (played by Marvin Wayans) but soon discovers the sinister secrets that lie both within the walls as well as the league.

While the film barely passes 90 minutes, the feeling is more like two and a half hours. Intriguing elements include a good lead actor, set design and cinematography work. However, it is all compacted in a movie where the viewer will get lost halfway through and never find their placing again.

Football is arguably the most complicated sport to master, and the script manages to present the psychological effect it could have on an athlete. Withers captures the physic and strain in a performance that only uses his eyes. He brings a layered character to life in a more than dull flick. While Wayans is a good actor, this role is arguably the worst miscasting of the year. It’s not believable that he could be the insanely dark character the script is writing him to be.

While the plot remains focused throughout its runtime, so many twists and turns with the camera were used in a not-so-efficient way.

“Him” is film I would call, at this time, the year’s biggest disappointment. Like a real-life football game, just because you know the rule book and have practiced and won competitions beforehand, you cannot win them all.

· Lacking (Entertainment Quality)

· Slacking (Pacing Style)

· Worth tracking (Cinematography)

· Worth backing (Story Idea)

· Fracking good (Lead Actor)

Slacker Scale – D