Taika Waititi Losing his Touch?
Next Goal Wins, Taika Waititi's most recent movie, boasts among the lowest Rotten Tomatoes ratings of his career. Once much praised, his humorous approach seems to be under question now. With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 42%, the movie lags far behind Waititi's other highly regarded productions including Thor: Ragnarok and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
How did everything go wrong?
Given his popularity a few years ago, Taika Waititi's critical fall is an unexpected change of events. Some say the change is just a matter of overexpression. Once fresh and original, his style of humor is now known to many and seems to have lost its gloss. Some, meanwhile, also contend that the director's most recent films lack the depth that made his earlier works so popular.
Examining Deeper:
Although Next Goal Wins might have got mixed reviews, it's noteworthy that Waititi's critical reception has suffered in other films as well. Thor: Ragnarok got great reviews and a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes; his follow-up films Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Love And Thunder got somewhat less ratings of 80% and 63% respectively. Some critics contend these movies show a change in Waititi's creative vision, while others claim they just deviate from his tried-for style.
The Jojo Rabbit Case
The shift in critical reaction to Waititi's work might be connected to the Jojo Rabbit movie from 2016, in which he played a fictionalized Hitler. Mixed responses were received for this movie; some praised its satirical style while others thought it offensive and insensitive. One could regard Jojo Rabbit as the turning point, starting Waititi's critical slide.
Comedy through Drama
Taika Waititi is turning his attention from comedy in an effort to find his critical footing. His forthcoming drama adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's book Klara and the Sun Offering a break from Waititi's trademark humor, the movie centers on a robot girl.
Looking Past Blockbusters
Taika Waititi has kept success in other projects even if his career as a blockbuster director might not be as strong as it once was. Among several popular TV shows he has participated in are Our Flag Means Death and What We Do In The Shadows. Both shows have attracted praise from critics and a devoted following, so demonstrating Waititi's continuing relevance in the entertainment sector.
The Conclusion
Taika Waititi's critical reception has changed, but it's too early to call his career over. His experimentation in several genres and continuous television success show his adaptability and range. Taika Waititi might be simply developing, thus his next works could surprise and delight viewers in ways we never would have thought possible.
