I grew up loving Arnold. Watched Predator two dozen times. When T2 hit theaters, I was 16. Nobody was bigger or cooler or more fun to imitate.
I've enjoyed him, too in his older years, even as his movies got a little creaky, for his seemingly earnest politics. He's a fascinating guy, but this doc fell short for me.
A documentary should reveal its subject. Not just give you the highlights, but truly peek behind the curtain. Having a star produce his own film is a conflict of interest in that regard. We don't get anything really insightful here, just a three part puff piece that glosses over anything salty or potentially interesting. Really? Your father went to war for the Nazi party? Let's talk about that. Let's talk about the women in your youth, let's really talk about the Kennedy family and what it's like to marry into American royalty.
I enjoyed the look back, of course, but was left unsatisfied and, frankly, a little bored. This is Arnold on Arnold, the king of brand management doing a documentary about himself. It's apropos of our time and selfie culture, our curated Instagram public selves, fear of Me Too and cancel culture. Arnold may be one of the last true mega celebrities of our time; there was just something underwhelming that his life is boiled down to a Netflix three-parter he carefully curated himself.
6/10.
I've enjoyed him, too in his older years, even as his movies got a little creaky, for his seemingly earnest politics. He's a fascinating guy, but this doc fell short for me.
A documentary should reveal its subject. Not just give you the highlights, but truly peek behind the curtain. Having a star produce his own film is a conflict of interest in that regard. We don't get anything really insightful here, just a three part puff piece that glosses over anything salty or potentially interesting. Really? Your father went to war for the Nazi party? Let's talk about that. Let's talk about the women in your youth, let's really talk about the Kennedy family and what it's like to marry into American royalty.
I enjoyed the look back, of course, but was left unsatisfied and, frankly, a little bored. This is Arnold on Arnold, the king of brand management doing a documentary about himself. It's apropos of our time and selfie culture, our curated Instagram public selves, fear of Me Too and cancel culture. Arnold may be one of the last true mega celebrities of our time; there was just something underwhelming that his life is boiled down to a Netflix three-parter he carefully curated himself.
6/10.