Dang, this Tom Brady-Patrick Mahomes documentary is crazy…

“Him” follows a football prospect (Tyriq Withers) who goes to train with an eight-time champion quarterback (Marlon Wayans), only to have strange things begin to happen at the isolated compound. Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and Jim Jefferies also star, while Justin Tipping directs and Jordan Peele produces.

I was interested-enough in “Him,” but mostly for the football themes and not the messy-looking trailers. And while there are nuggets of intrigue and cool visuals throughout, the trailers were accurate in their depiction of a film that bites off more than it can chew.

I have always liked Marlon Wayans, and think the few times he has chosen to take on more serious roles (“Requiem for a Dream,” “Air,” and “Respect”) he has delivered. His Isaiah White, the film’s version of Tom Brady with his near-double digit championship rings, is a charismatic star, though there are hints of toxicity beneath the surface. He has a few moments of humor, too, and while I wish the character had some more depth or development outside “football is my life” but the film is undoubtably at its most watchable when he’s on screen; can’t wait to see if he parodies the role in “Scary Movie 6” next year.

Tyriq Withers holds his own as Cameron Cade, a first-round draft talent who suffers a brain injury after being attacked by a crazed fan. Withers was last seen this year in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” requel, so he’s having quite the spooky 2025, and he has some good moments of portraying a young man with a world of expectations suddenly thrust upon him, though just like Wayans his character isn’t much beyond the gridiron.

Because this is a Jordan Peele production, the film has some cool and creative shots and imagery. From footballs spinning for seemingly no reason to inferred x-rays when two players collide, the film is if nothing else engaging to look at. I also liked some of the themes and messages, from celebrity worship to the sacrifices athletes make to achieve greatness, though much of it never gets deeper than the surface and at some points is as subtle as a Derrick Henry stiff arm.

The film also does a thing I hate where since they couldn’t get the NFL likeness license, they have to create their own version but it ends up feeling like some minor league rip-off. You just never buy a team called the San Antonio Saviors or a league called the United States Football Federation (USFF) would have as much of a chokehold on America and its football fans as the real-life NFL, and because of that it does nerf a bit of the impact when characters are talking about wanting to be the greatest player the league has ever seen.

“Him” may scratch the itch for the least-demanding horror or football fans, and there’s plenty for the tinfoil hat community to chew on when it comes to rituals and sacrifices by the elite celebrities of the world, but it’s just a shame that it offers little beyond that and wastes some interesting ideas. I can see myself maybe throwing this on at some fall night down the road because of Wayans’ deranged turn and a brisk 96 minute runtime, but I don’t think it’s something worth bearing Peele’s brand or worth rushing out to see.

Critics Rating: 6/10