“How did I get here?” I asked myself as I stood in the grand foyer of the Trump Kennedy Center. Like any classic elite D.C. event, you’re either invited (because you’re important) or else you secure a ticket through a friend-of-a-friend-who-knows-someone-who knows-someone else. I fell into the latter category for the “Melania: Twenty Days to History” documentary premiere.

It was a night of grandiose — with a red carpet, a host of celebrity guests, and — not one, but two — goodie bags for attendees to take home. President Donald Trump, along with many of his Cabinet members attended the premiere in support of the first lady. And while it was a memorable night filled with glitz and glam, the film itself fell more toward the forgettable.

Despite blowing away box office expectations, the new “Melania” documentary is receiving mixed reviews, with some critics suggesting it was a “tedius, criminally shallow propaganda puff piece.” As a conservative, Gen-Z, fashion-loving woman, I am the demographic who should have loved this documentary, yet I left the premiere feeling dissatisfied.

So why is “Melania” both outperforming expectations and facing notable backlash? It all comes down to viewer expectations and personal politics.

Viewer Expectations

The first lady is indeed admirable. Her poise and carefully cultivated brand are worthy of esteem. As one who loves to dive deep into relevant pop culture moments, I went into the film expecting to walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Melania. What drives her? What makes her tick? How does she balance so many responsibilities? But what the film delivered was scenes of her making micro adjustments to her Inauguration Day outfits (which doesn’t make them any less iconic), personal jet rides back and forth from New York City and Mar-a-Lago, and meetings with her events director to select what color fabrics would grace the tables of the myriad inaugural events.

All of these decisions are important on some level, but what I really wanted to see were the raw and real moments of what it looks like to carry the weight of being a first lady. Maybe I’m wrong in this belief, but to me, a first lady should be the human embodiment of what it means to be an American woman. As I watched the film, the question at the forefront of my mind was: What makes her relatable? What makes her like the average American woman? And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I went wrong.

Melania Trump is not relatable. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Her life simply does not reflect the life of an average American woman. She doesn’t fly by the seat of her pants to make decisions like many of us do. She doesn’t run the rat race that the political sphere often demands. She is in a category of her own. And that’s okay.

I walked into the film hoping to catch glimpses and reflections of my own life, but that’s not what this was. This was a glimpse into the life of an elite woman. A peek into a lifestyle most of us will never personally experience. The viewer who experiences the film through that lens will not leave disappointed.

Personal Politics

Let’s be honest, anything connected to the Trump name will experience some sort of media uproar. That’s just how the cultural cookie crumbles. But setting aside personal political bias, critics are claiming the documentary is a propaganda “puff piece” created to boost the overall image of the Trump administration. In saying that, critics are forgetting the nature of the film and who it is about — a documentary about Melania Trump. Of course it will be perfectly cut, edited, and posed — that’s her brand. To be upset that it’s not more revealing or messier is to forget its subject: a very private, reserved, and poised first lady. The film is an obvious reflection of her personal style and brand.

So, what’s driving the success of the film? Pure curiosity. Curiosity from those who are already fans of the first lady, and curiosity from those who oppose her and just want to add further fuel to their dislike. While this film didn’t fit the normal documentary narrative, it did strike a chord on both sides of the aisle. Either way, the film is a financial success. Would I see it again? Probably not, but if you go in with the right expectations and an open mind, it might just fit your style.