Zendaya is one of the few stars of her generation who has truly mastered versatility and become one of Hollywood's brightest talents. Whether she is playing the role of a troubled teenager or a tennis prodigy caught in a complicated love triangle, the actress effortlessly transforms into her role and shows a remarkable performance. Unsurprisingly, she is enjoying one of the biggest years of her career yet. 

After drawing the curtains on Rue in Euphoria, Zendaya went on to star in The Drama alongside Robert Pattinson, with two more collaborations with the actor to follow in films by Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. While Zendaya's films and shows rarely stumble either commercially or critically, one title has been dragged into the mud. And this is her only Netflix movie that became mired in controversy and failed to make the impact many expected. 

So, here is everything that may have gone wrong and why the film struggled to find success.

Malcolm & Marie is a Netflix film that premiered in 2021. It is one of the first few Hollywood films to be written, financed, and produced during the COVID-19 lockdown. The movie follows up-and-coming filmmaker Malcolm Elliott and his girlfriend, Marie Jones, over the course of a single night and one location.

However, during this evening, the couple confronts their unresolved emotions, pent-up frustrations, and anger through a series of intense conversations. John David Washington stars as Malcolm, while Zendaya shows a powerful performance as Marie. However, even during the release of the movie, the cast was criticised for its age gap.

The age gap between Zendaya and John David Washington was one of the most talked-about aspects of Malcolm & Marie when the film was released. At the time of filming, Zendaya was 24 years old, while Washington was 36, prompting criticism from some viewers who felt the 12-year age difference was too noticeable for a romantic pairing. However, the casting controversy was only one of the reasons the film divided audiences.

From its screenplay to its portrayal of relationships, Malcolm & Marie faced criticism on several fronts following its release.

One of the reasons why the film was heavily criticized was the way Marie's character was written. Although Zendaya showed a brilliant performance, many critics felt Marie was not given enough dialogue or agency. Much of the film follows Malcolm's lengthy monologues and his perspectives rather than Marie’s.

However, the director Sam Levinson has once explained that Marie has equally crucial lines in the movie.

“What happens over the course of the movie is that Malcolm stakes a million and one positions and then he’s rendered completely speechless as Marie breaks down what she sees as his issues as an artist and a human being,” he told The Los Angeles Times in 2021. 

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“I was surprised,” Levinson added, “when a bit of the response has mirrored the ego of Malcolm, negating everything Marie has to say.”

Yet another aspect of the movie that drew criticism was its dialogue. Much of the movie follows Malcolm expressing his emotions and frustrations through lengthy monologues. His extended speeches about cinema, art, and film criticism often feel exhausting, making the conversations seem more like lectures than natural exchanges.

Although Marie shares the film's title, many critics felt that her character was overshadowed by Malcolm. Much of the film is devoted to Malcolm's lengthy monologues about filmmaking, creative expression, and the challenges of surviving in the industry, while Marie often spends long stretches listening rather than expressing her own thoughts. This imbalance made the relationship dynamic feel one-sided, with some viewers criticizing Malcolm's speeches as coming across as lectures rather than genuine conversations between equal partners.

Many viewers felt the screenplay was overly self-indulgent, with Malcolm serving as a medium for writer-director Sam Levinson's personal views on filmmaking and film criticism. Instead of developing the story and its characters equally, the film often shifts into lengthy speeches about the industry.

While the movie was criticized and called out for have prioritized Levinson's opinions over a balanced narrative, the visuals of the film, no matter how beautiful, actually did not manage to balm the wound this time. 

Another reason that led to the film’s criticism was its focus on looking artistic rather than telling a meaningful story. Its black-and-white cinematography, emotionally intense performances, and theatrical dialogue were impressive and visually awe-inspiring. While these elements impressed some audiences, others believed they distracted from the characters and narrative.

The movie was criticized for valuing visuals and style over substance.

Many viewers believed Malcolm's angry speeches about film critics reflected director Sam Levinson's own frustrations with negative reviews of his earlier work. Because of this, some critics argued that the scenes felt more like the director defending himself than developing the story. However, apart from the flaws, some elements convince one to watch the movie.

Both, Spiderman: Brand New Day actress Zendaya and John David Washington showed brilliant performances as Malcolm and Marie. Moreover, the film might not have mentioned COVID-19, but the entire setting is a subtle reminder of that period. The cast stuck together in one room for a lengthy period shows the tension and pressure, giving watchers the pleasure of a dedicated cast, if not anything else. 

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Have you watched Malcolm & Marie on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.