Robbie Williams Shines as CGI Monkey in Thrilling Biopic Take

How do you spice up another musician’s ego-soothing biographical drama? Monkeys. I’m not joking. Better Man started as a conversation between English pop royalty Robbie Williams and director Michael Gracey. Williams expressed feeling like a dancing monkey in stages of his performance career, which Gracey valued as a unique visual hook. Instead of depending on an actor to recreate historic performances from an iconic musician, Williams provides the voice for a CG primate version of himself. It’s a bonkers decision that works better than it should, finding a fresh spin on another drug-fueled cabaret of an origin story.

Jonno Davies provides the motion capture for Chimpy Robbie Williams, who we meet in his earliest years as an adorable jungle boy. Everyone around Robbie is human. His Sinatra-worshipping and neglectful runaway father, Peter (Steve Pemberton). Dedicated mother, Janet (Kate Mulvany). Williams’ supportive and beloved grandmother, Betty (Alison Steadman). The film tracks his rise from a shrimpy, pickled-last-for-sports childhood to his historic Knebworth concerts shortly before his admission to rehab. You’ll relive his meteoric upbringing with Nigel Martin-Smith’s boy band Take That, his breakout solo career, and all the tumultuous events that cemented his legacy — for better or worse.

I’m a sucker for a musical biopic, let alone one where a monkey man rails obscene amounts of cocaine. That said, Robbie Williams isn’t my typical cup of tea — never present in my algorithmically driven Spotify playlists. Thankfully, Better Man doesn’t require a blinding devotion to Williams’ catalog or backstory. Gracey’s techniques as a musical director (seen in The Greatest Showman) make it easy to connect with Williams’ lyrics as they croon over major milestones along his professional ascension. Gracey gracefully emphasizes artistic splendor and the emotionality behind Williams’ re-recorded tracks (for the film’s scenes), delivering that oomph factor as production slickness hits memorable high notes.

In that regard, Better Man does fall back on storytelling devices that mirror countless musical biopics. Better Man, Rocketman, and Bohemian Rhapsody are all similar in their highs and lows as focal subjects burn bridges, jeopardize their careers, and everything changes after a knockout stage performance. Williams’ struggles with countless substances from an early age and stunted maturation as a boyband heartthrob in his teens aren’t one-of-a-kind, nor does Better Man dodge hilarious roasts from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. There’s a self-wankery about Better Man that presumes audiences want to see another celebrity confront the dangers of stardom like a public therapy session, and even with a monkey as lead, Gracey’s script (co-written by Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson) doesn’t escape biopic predictability.

And yet, Better Man has a reckless sincerity about what Williams is willing to show. Everything between Williams and his grandma Betty is primed to devastate audiences, especially if you know “Nan’s Song.” There’s an energetic celebration as Take That leads the entirety of Picadilly Circus on a gran-humping, storefront takeover music video set to “Rock DJ.” When Williams woos All Saints member Nicole Appleton (Raechelle Banno) at the beginning of their romance, emotions swell as their dancing set to “She’s the One” is intercut with the heartbreak of trying and failing to start a family. There are odd choices, such as Williams’ platforming his deadbeat-ish father over the mother who never left in a closing musical number. However, Gracey’s execution still tugs at our heartstrings even when self-indulgence arises.

Better Man is in a category of successful biopic dramatizations all unto itself. Robbie Williams capitalizes on a concept no musician can duplicate and chooses the correct collaborator in Gracey. Entertainment is never that of gazing at a freakshow — Chimp Williams isn’t some mascot or heckle-worthy hail mary. Gracey sustains an unhinged authenticity about Better Man, which is a testament to the dominating story that makes us care less about the absurdity of Robbie Williams as a monkey with the rawest, snowiest nose in the UK. Even if the film is just Williams’ ego project, the performances and song interludes are enough to sell Better Man as a must-see example of how to spice up your personal history with unforeseen ambitions.

Conclusion:
Better Man is a biographical drama that stands out from the crowd with its unique concept and execution. While it may not break new ground in terms of storytelling, it’s a must-see for fans of Robbie Williams and those interested in musical biopics.

FAQs:

• What is Better Man about?
  Better Man is a biographical drama about the life of Robbie Williams, featuring a unique concept where Williams provides the voice for a CG primate version of himself.
• Who directed Better Man?
  Better Man was directed by Michael Gracey, who is known for his work on The Greatest Showman.
• What is the tone of Better Man?
  The tone of Better Man is a mix of drama, comedy, and music, with a focus on showcasing Williams’ life and career.
• Is Better Man a must-see for fans of Robbie Williams?
  Yes, Better Man is a must-see for fans of Robbie Williams, as it offers a unique perspective on his life and career.