I was surprised how much I liked this film....
When I first saw the trailer for Better Man I had no real desire to see it. It was about the life of Robbie Williams, a pop artist I know but have never really liked. So it wasn't a film I was going to actively seek out to see. But after seeing some pretty good initial reviews I decided to give it a chance.
Of course from the trailer Robbie Williams is played by a CGI animated chimpanzee. It seemed really weird to me but I thought that this would either work or completely crash and burn. The musical biography sub genre has been very popular lately and they are pretty similar in structure but this film's premise of showing Robbie as a chimp is definitely a strange choice. But as Robbie says in his narration, he felt he was less evolved than others so his being a chimp is really just how he sees himself. No one in the film says a thing about his appearance so the choice really works as a state of mind choice for Robbie.
The film deals with his early life with his family. Especially his desire to be and please his father which has dreams of being an entertainer. Most of the film deals with Robbie's desire fur stardom. Really his desire to be acknowledged by his father left his family. He is hurt by his father's absence but as he grows up he is obsessed with being famous. The film shows his joining a boy band and their popularity. Then he goes off to try to succeed as a solo artist. It has many of the beats in other biopics. The russ, the partying and drug use. The fall and eventual rehabilitation. What makes Better Man different that other of this type of film other than Robbie appearing as a chimp is the humor and energy the film has. It is partly a musical. There are multiple musical scenes that are really well done and entertaining. The film is directed with great energy by Michael Gracey. The director of The Greatest Showman. A very entertaining musical. I can see why he was chosen to direct this film.
Overall I was surprised how much I liked this film. It is a little long but moves quickly so it's never boring. And even though it covers ground that other films of this kind have done it does it in a fresh way.
Grade: B+
Of course from the trailer Robbie Williams is played by a CGI animated chimpanzee. It seemed really weird to me but I thought that this would either work or completely crash and burn. The musical biography sub genre has been very popular lately and they are pretty similar in structure but this film's premise of showing Robbie as a chimp is definitely a strange choice. But as Robbie says in his narration, he felt he was less evolved than others so his being a chimp is really just how he sees himself. No one in the film says a thing about his appearance so the choice really works as a state of mind choice for Robbie.
The film deals with his early life with his family. Especially his desire to be and please his father which has dreams of being an entertainer. Most of the film deals with Robbie's desire fur stardom. Really his desire to be acknowledged by his father left his family. He is hurt by his father's absence but as he grows up he is obsessed with being famous. The film shows his joining a boy band and their popularity. Then he goes off to try to succeed as a solo artist. It has many of the beats in other biopics. The russ, the partying and drug use. The fall and eventual rehabilitation. What makes Better Man different that other of this type of film other than Robbie appearing as a chimp is the humor and energy the film has. It is partly a musical. There are multiple musical scenes that are really well done and entertaining. The film is directed with great energy by Michael Gracey. The director of The Greatest Showman. A very entertaining musical. I can see why he was chosen to direct this film.
Overall I was surprised how much I liked this film. It is a little long but moves quickly so it's never boring. And even though it covers ground that other films of this kind have done it does it in a fresh way.
Grade: B+
- flicklover
- Jan 14, 2025