Malcolm & Marie is one of those Small Group of People Talk About Philosophical/Cultural/Personal Things For The Entire Movie movies. These can be great… and they can fail. This one – which focuses on arguments and discussions about a couple’s relationship (and about movie making) really worked for me.

John David Washington and Zendaya play the couple who are returning from the premier of his first movie. We learn that there’s both love and trouble in the relationship, anger, passion, jealousy, and doubt as well. She’s stewing over the movie, having hid that she feels its based on her life as a former addict… he says otherwise. They fight, they bicker, they make up. They talk about film and film history.

A movie that’s greatly based on people griping at each other can be very, very tiring. I was engrossed by their debates, arguments, and shouting matches though… whether its the writing or the acting, either way, this film lands the dialog and relationship. It was touching, angry, sensual, thoughtful, and more.

John David Washington, for the first time for me, made me see his famous father (Denzel) in his performance. He’s very good and has a couple great monologs, including one rant that goes on and on about film history and film criticism/critics. It’s very entertaining but it also seems like the writer/director is trying to get some of his own anger at Hollywood out on screen. It was a little self-indulgent… but also forgivable since Washington pulls it off so well.

Zendaya also reminds us she’s a very good actress, going from angry to bored to very angry to enticing in her various scenes. It’s hard to say who is “right” or “Wrong”… or if this relationship is worth saving. But she plays off Washington very well.

I was engrossed in this film. It worked for me from minute one. But I can imagine that if you can’t get into their relationship troubles and have zero interest in film and film criticism, this movie might be teeth-grating. I say it’s worth a look though.

Score: 87