Movie Review # 655: Bob Marley: One Love (2024)

Ladies, and gentlemen, today, we review yet another biopic of another famous musical artist. This time around, we will be looking into the artist, known as Bob Marley. So now, let’s discuss Bob Marley: One Love, shall we?

Plot: The movie centers around Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir), and how, during political unrest in Jamaica in 1976, and after, he came out with music that would hopefully change music, and the world for the better? Did he accomplish his mission in the end?

Well, after seeing Bob Marley: One Love, I was surprised to discover that he read the Bible, and seemingly wanted to follow God, but was also part of a movement called the Rastafari Movement. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Rastafari Movement, it holds some of the same ideals as Christianity, but also has some convoluted beliefs. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say that Rastafari acts like a cult with weird practices like Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and more. With all of that said, was this film enjoyable? Well, even though we could have maybe gone a little bit more in depth with Bob Marley’s life, we did seem to understand his life, and his music quite a bit from this film. Marley was developed well, and his family, and friends we got to know enough even if, again, we could have maybe gotten to know them a little more. However, it was good to learn something new from this film like how there was a great deal of political unrest during the time that Bob Marley was beginning his musical career, how Marley came to write the songs that many of us know, and love, how stubborn he was, and, better yet, how loving, and forgiving he was towards others, including those who may have hurt, and/or those who hurt him badly physically, or emotionally. Honestly, it is interesting to know that, unlike other recent biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, or Rocketman, or films like those, Bob Marley: One Love really distinguishes by including the religious aspect of this film. Yes, clearly, that was big part of Bob Marley’s life. Still, the fact that the filmmakers were willing to include that aspect was very good, even if there was the fact that Bob Marley was part of the Rastafari Movement. So, I guess the question is, was Bob Marley a Christian? Well, Marley may not have exactly been a Christian per se, or did he try to be, despite being part of the Rastafari Movement? Well, God knew his heart, that’s for sure. Anyway, it was good for this film to have Bob Marley sing the songs that he did, for this film to portray how he felt joy, and even fear when he, and his family were sometimes in danger, and how Bob Marley was willing to have the courage to face dangerous situations whenever he may have needed to. This movie also does well with teaching some great lessons, including how we should not be stubborn, and be willing to listen to advice from others, even when it’s something that we may not sometimes want to hear. What’s even more is that Bob Marley set a great example during one scene of why forgiveness is important. I won’t give away what he said, nor the circumstances that led to a scene like this. However, let’s just say that for those of us, even as Christians that may be struggling to forgive those that hurt us really badly, we could learn a lesson, or two from someone like Bob Marley. Finally, the score by Kris Bowers was good, the characters were good, and things like that. Still, in a case like this one, the film could have maybe gone an extra half an hour, if not more just to flesh out Bob Marley’s life, his family, and things like that out a little more.

And that’s my review for Bob Marley: One Love. It is a film with great lessons, great music that he wrote, and knowing why he wrote them, and more. Whether you find yourself loving this film, hating it, or having a love/hate relationship with this movie, Bob Marley: One Love is a film that is worth seeing, had at least a good story, and has some valuable lessons that are timeless from this film. For those of you who are not all that familiar with Bob Marley, his music, and his life overall, this is a good place to start in learning more about him. If you haven’t seen it yet, I would highly recommend it. Yes, some people will love it more than others. Still, definitely go see it. You’re bound to enjoy it to one degree, or another.

Final Grade: A