Ziggy Marley on Critics’ Response to ‘One Love’ Biopic: ‘They Were Looking For a Different Story’

Ziggy Marley spoke about the disparate box office success and lukewarm critical reviews of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic in an interview on Thursday, likening the project to the critical consensus around his late father’s legendary album Exodus.

“The reviews of my father’s Exodus album … they bashed the album that became the album of the century,” Marley told Variety. “It’s not what they missed, but what they were looking for. They were looking for a different story. Our story’s about this man inside himself and his heart. It’s not a typical biopic or rags-to-riches story. It’s spiritual, too. So maybe they’re missing the essence of the thing and what it’s supposed to be instead of what they think it should be.”

In our own review of the film, David Fear had written that the movie “is a perfectly functional look at a legend, one that will definitely make you want to put Exodus back into heavy playlist rotation. It’s still not enough.”

Despite the mixed reviews and its 42 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, One Love became a hit, grossing close to $150 million at the global box office as of Thursday. “I was like, ‘Yeah, this is actually perfect for something representing Bob. That the critics don’t get it, but the people get it,’” Marley said.

Beyond critical consensus and box office figures, Marley also shot down the notion of more content when asked about options like TV movies and series.

“I’m satisfied right now. I feel good. I’m full,” he said. “That was a good meal, and I don’t want to get overstuffed.”

The Marley film is one of many during the surge in music biopics of the past several years, with movies on Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, and four separate films on each of the Beatles all in the pipeline as well.

From Rolling Stone US.