Dog’s Movie House: “Bob Marley: One Love” Entertaining But Somewhat Slight Biopic Of A Musical Legend!

“Bob Marley: One Love” makes the interesting narrative decision to focus primarily on two years of the legendary performer’s life, starting in 1976 when assassins attempt to take the life of Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and his wife Rita (Lashanna Lynch) in Jamaica and moving on to Marley’s exile to London, where he and his band create the legendary Exodus album and then circling back to the well-known peace concert back in Jamaica in 1978, actively playing a part in keeping Jamaica from descending into war. Along the way we get brief flashbacks to his youth and his eventual courtship and marriage to Rita and sprinkled throughout are the performances and songs that made Marley such a legendary icon.

First, let’s get to the good stuff: Ben-Adir is dynamite as Marley, managing to infuse his portrayal with the combination of the magnetic energy that Marley was known for while adding just enough melancholy and doubt to give life to both the internal and external struggles Marley was suffering from during this time. He’s matched by Lynch as the fiery Rita, although she is given less to do during the film’s current storyline. She gets a little more scenic love in some of the flashback sequences and she is a good match for Ben-Adir in these scenes.

The music is, as expected, very good and the various performances are all well-choreographed and Ben-Adir really manages to capture Marley’s performance style and charisma, especially during the Peace concert during the back half of the film. There’s a reason Marley’s music is so loved and respected and most of it is on full display here.

The rest of the film is not quite as satisfying in terms of it’s biographical power. “Bob Marley: One Love” presents a type of santized version of Marley’s life. Yes, there is mention of his infidelities (one of the best scenes in the movie involves Lynch and Ben-Adir in a heated “discussion” about said infidelities), but for the most part the film gives Marley a saintly sheen that, while not entirely undeserved, gives the audience more of a two dimensional representation of the musician than a deeper, more nuanced look into his life and character. For example, I would have like to know more about his commitment ot Rastafarianism and the role that played in his philosophy. I would have like to have seen a more thorough dramatization of his incecurities and flaw along with the inner strength needed to overcome them. I would have liked to have seen a more indepth look at the personal relationships that helped form and define his philosophy other than that of his wife. (Even that relationship seems a little undercooked at times.) As such the film often plays like a Cliff’s Notes version of his life, giving you an overview of his accomplishments and trials during this period without really digging into the meat of things.

By focusing on this brief two year period, Green backs himself into something of a narrative corner, with the flashbacks of Marley not being entirely enough to pull him out. It might have been more satisfying to chart Marley’s story from his youth up until the 1978 concert so that a fuller portrait of the artist and activist could be painted and experienced. But of course, that’s not the film that is presented here.

That said, the elements that work in “Bob Marely: One Love” work very well. Ben-Adir and Lynch’s magnetic performances along with the classic music and concert recreations make this film a wonderful watch. It’s worth seeing at the theater even if you’ve never even heard of Bob Marley. In fact, it’s an excellent introduction into the man and his music, but if you want a deeper examination of this complex and influencial individual, I’m afraid you’re going to have to look elsewhere! 3 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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