Antoine Fuqua directs this Michael Jackson biopic, with a screenplay courtesy of John Logan, who has written the screenplays of such memorable films as "Gladiator," "The Aviator," and "Skyfall."

Fuqua is best known for "Training Day," "The Magnificent 7" (the 2016 version), and "The Equalizer."

So, first off, one watches "Michael," and half expects a Denzel Washington cameo - no such luck. Instead we have the real life nephew of Michael, Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine, taking on the role of Michael. Colman Domingo is the controversial slave-driver of a father, Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays the mother, Katherine.

Other notables in the cast include Keilyn Durrel Jones as longtime bodyguard Bill Bray, Larenz Tate as Motown’s Berry Gordy, Kendrick Sampson as legendary record producer Quincy Jones, Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, an unrecognizable Mike Myers as Walter Yetnikoff, and Juliano Valdi as the young Michael. 

Given the highly controversial and incendiary latter years of MJ, the big question then hanging is what would the film depict and encompass?

Produced by Graham King, who gave us the sanitized and very tame "Bohemian Rhapsody," it’s to be expected that with Katherine Jackson still alive, and in order to get the blessings of the surviving members of the Jackson 5, this treatment would also play on the safe side, and avoid the child molestation accusations. In fact, there’s even a legal impediment to bringing this up in the film, as part of the Jordan Chandler settlement with Michael. So, what we get is a chronicling of Michael’s life from the age of 10, the rise of the Jackson 5, his shift to a solo career, the release of records "Off The Wall" and "Thriller," and how this affected his relationship with his father, and the rest of the family.

The film starts, and closes in 1988, as Michael embarks on his tour promoting the album "Bad." If every story needs a villain, the Michael film finds one in Joseph - father Joe Jackson. Colman Domingo makes the most of this opportunity, the only one breathing a semblance of fire in the film. And reports are out there that real life daughter Paris Jackson has distanced herself from the film, calling it sugar-coated and saying she has zero involvement in the production. 

So what do we get? Sugar-coated to a fault would have actually been more interesting, as this film is muted and bland, except for when the musical numbers are being performed.

Jafaar does a great job mimicking his late uncle; but isn’t given very much to play with dramatically.

For much of his life, Michael was an enigma, and other than very close friends who were often much older than him, the only ones who might give us a real picture of the man behind the performer would be his pets - and they aren’t talking. So one would think the dramatic license is there to try and scratch the surface and give us an impression of the man behind the sequined glove. But unfortunately, we don’t even get that.

So, if you’re a diehard music fan of Michael, and are happy to live in the fantasy of his Neverland; you’ll find this treatment more than adequate and be happy. Me, I was hoping against hope, that there would be more.

Do watch it on IMAX if you can, as the sequences of Michael performing are always a blast, reminding us just how unique an artist he was.