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Amazon MGM Studios’ $40 million acquisition “Melania” fails to deliver meaningful insight into the former First Lady’s return to the White House, according to critics who have screened the controversial project.
Director Brett Ratner’s first documentary follows Melania Trump during a 20-day period in January 2025, chronicling her preparation for Donald Trump’s second inauguration and her vision for her role as First Lady. The film, which received an additional $35 million in promotional support, has drawn criticism for its superficial approach and questionable artistic choices.
The documentary opens with drone footage of Mar-a-Lago accompanied by Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” an anti-war anthem that seems jarringly misplaced. This is followed by Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” playing as Melania travels between Florida and New York on the Trump private jet. Later, the film reveals that Jackson is Melania’s favorite artist and “Billie Jean” her favorite song—an odd choice given the song’s subject matter about paternity disputes.
Throughout the 104-minute runtime, viewers watch Melania select her inauguration wardrobe, attend planning meetings, and prepare to revive her “Be Best” initiative. The film attempts to position her as a serious stateswoman, showing meetings with Queen Rania of Jordan and a former Israeli hostage. However, these moments are undercut by the disproportionate focus on fashion details and event planning.
Rather than direct interviews, the film relies on scripted voice-over narration to convey Melania’s thoughts. In one sequence, she watches footage of Los Angeles wildfires while the narration confirms that “she feels bad about it.” Another scene shows her lighting a candle for her late mother on the anniversary of her passing—with the full camera crew in tow.
Ratner, who has produced documentaries but never directed one, brings little artistic vision to the project. Critics note his flat, HGTV-like filming style, with occasional shifts to 16mm-style footage that feel like a halfhearted attempt to lend historical weight to ordinary moments.
Nearly 30 minutes of the film is devoted to Inauguration Day, yet reviewers found the portrayal surprisingly lifeless. The most relatable moment comes at 2:00 a.m. when Melania finally removes her high heels. In an apparent effort to demonstrate her influence, the film shows her suggesting Donald add the phrases “peacemaker and unifier” to his speech—language that some viewers might find ironic given the political climate.
Donald Trump appears consistently supportive on camera, frequently complimenting Melania’s appearance. The film includes a surprisingly cordial moment between Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden, though it doesn’t shy away from showing Trump’s characteristic complaints, including his irritation about the college football national championship being scheduled on inauguration day.
Early screenings revealed divided audience reactions, with Trump supporters enthusiastically filming scenes and applauding throughout. Critics, however, have dismissed the documentary as shallow propaganda lacking depth or meaningful insight.
“Melania” represents a significant investment for Amazon MGM Studios during a time when political documentary content has become increasingly valuable to streaming platforms seeking to capture audience attention during election cycles. The film arrives amid a trend of politically-oriented documentary projects receiving substantial studio backing, though few with budgets approaching this scale.
The film is now playing in theaters nationwide, marketed primarily to the Trump base as the former president continues his second term in office.
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9 Comments
The documentary’s focus on Melania Trump’s wardrobe selection and preparation for the inauguration ceremony seems to miss the mark. I hope the filmmakers can find a way to delve deeper into her vision and role as First Lady.
Yes, that’s a fair point. Covering the superficial aspects of her role while neglecting the more substantive issues and her overall vision could undermine the documentary’s impact. It will be interesting to see if they can shift the focus in a more meaningful direction.
The use of songs like “Fortunate Son” and “Billie Jean” in the film seems rather odd and potentially distracting from the subject matter. I wonder if the filmmakers were trying to add some artistic flair, but it may have backfired.
Yeah, those song choices do seem quite peculiar. It will be interesting to see if the filmmakers can justify their creative decisions or if they come across as ill-conceived attempts to add some style over substance.
It’s unfortunate to hear that this documentary is being criticized for its lack of depth and questionable creative choices. Given the high-profile nature of the subject, one would hope the filmmakers could deliver a more insightful and balanced portrayal.
Interesting that this documentary on Melania Trump is already facing criticism for its superficial approach and questionable artistic choices. It seems the filmmakers may have missed an opportunity to provide meaningful insight into her role and vision as First Lady.
I agree, the documentary appears to be more of a promotional effort than a substantive exploration of Melania Trump’s experiences and perspectives. Curious to see if it can overcome these early criticisms.
At $75 million in total production and promotional costs, this documentary on Melania Trump certainly had a significant budget. It’s disappointing to hear that it may have fallen short in providing meaningful insights into her role and vision as First Lady.
Absolutely, with that kind of investment, one would expect the filmmakers to deliver a much more compelling and insightful portrayal of Melania Trump’s experiences. It will be intriguing to see if they can course-correct before the film’s release.