A&E | 2009 | 282 Mins. | Not Rated
Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 were a big part of the soundtrack of my childhood. By the time I was old enough to remember, Michael had just released his first solo album 1979’s Off The Wall. Even at seven, I knew that album was something special. It seemed like every car radio was blaring “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.” The massive success of Michael’s solo effort led to a renewed interest in his albums with his brothers (The Jackson Five), and everybody started playing those as well. From that time on, I became a fan of The Jackson Five, and one of their ‘Greatest Hits’ packages has always had a permanent place on my iPod.
I hadn’t had a chance to watch A&E’s The Jack5ons: A Family Dynasty when it first aired, so I didn’t know what to expect when I received the DVD set. As the series begins, four members of the legendary group, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Jermaine Jackson are discussing how to put together a fortieth anniversary concert, when tragedy strikes. The group’s most famous member, Michael Jackson, dies. Jermaine is shown at the hospital reading a statement from the family and then sharing his thoughts on that day. Watching, as the brothers deal with what has to be an earth shattering event is tough; beyond that, The Jack5ons: A Family Dynasty is just plain sad.
Goodness knows, much of reality television isn’t that “real,” but The Jacksons is clearly tightly controlled. Watching it, you know that the brothers (all listed among the executive producers) are not letting you see one second of their lives they don’t want you to see. We are shown that they are all men deeply dedicated to their families, who live the straight and narrow.
Given the obvious stage managing, it’s amazing that Jermaine managed to come off as such a diva—he blows off a publicity photo shoot with his brothers (he claims he had pinkeye) and has his wife pull up his socks! What did Jermaine think he was accomplishing by letting this stuff be shown? I mean, Jermaine misses Tito’s solo concert because he has to film a music video. His last chart success was 1989’s “Don’t Take It Personal”, so I’m guessing the video could’ve waited a day.
Despite their best intentions, the four brothers squabble constantly. At one point, their filmed in the recording studio trying to put down a new track. It’s obvious from the start; this isn’t going to go well. After Jermaine leaves, Jackie instructs the engineer to erase Jermaine’s lead vocals. ”It didn’t have that Jackson 5 magic,” he says. Perhaps he realizes what’s obvious to viewers; without Michael, the new ‘Jackson 4’ just doesn’t cut it.
Oddly enough, the theme music for the series, “Can You Feel It,” a hit for The Jacksons in 1980, was written by Michael and Jackie, and features lead vocals from Randy Jackson (who isn’t a regular cast member on the show), and Michael. Whether the four brothers realize it or not, the song represents the difficulty they are bound to have staying in the public eye, now that Michael is gone.
As someone who grew up on The Jackson Five and Michael Jackson, I thought The Jack5ons: A Family Dynasty was just a rather sad show about four talented guys trying to reclaim past glories. Unfortunately for them, their leader has died and can’t be replaced. I would rather slip in a CD of The Jackson 5’s greatest hits, then be subjected to more of their reality series.
The two DVD set provides six full episodes and no extras. A&E provides us with an image that looks fine given the documentary approach, and it sounds okay with a two channel stereo mix.
