Music bio pics, such as “Rocket Man” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” about Elton John and Freddy Mercury, respectively, continue to be popular among moviegoers. Even though Robbie Williams, the subject of “Better Man” (Paramount), may not have achieved the same level of fame as John or Mercury (stateside, at least), his story still got the cinematic treatment.
“Better Man,” directed by Michael Gracey (director of the rancid “The Greatest Showman”), circumvents the issue of finding a lookalike actor to portray Williams by having him portrayed by…wait for it…a CGI monkey (voiced by Jonno Davies). Sure, there’s something a bit simian-like about Williams’ rubbery face, and he is known for his ape-like acrobatics, but still…it works!
Beginning in his childhood home, where he lived with his frustrated performer father Peter (Steve Pemberton) – who would go on to change his name and abandon Robbie – his mother Janet (Kate Mulvany), and his grandmother Betty (Alison Steadman), Robbie is portrayed as a troubled, smart-mouthed kid with an abundance of energy. While still in high school, Robbie auditions for gay talent agent Nigel Martin-Smith (Damon Herriman) and lands a spot in the boyband Take That. After playing a series of shows in gay clubs, where Robbie says he “found his people,” Take That graduated to female audiences and the rest is short-lived boyband history.
Williams, whose legacy of troublemaking followed him to his brief tenure in Take That, led him to leave the group and launch a solo career that would far surpass that of his former band and bandmates. Along the way, he fell in and out of love with Nicole Appleton (Raechelle Banno) of girl-group All Saints fame, hung out with Liam Gallagher (Leo Harvey-Elledge) of Oasis (to whom he lost Nicole), reconciled with his itinerant father, lost his grandmother, slept around, binged on cocaine, speed, and a variety of alcoholic beverages, and ultimately got clean and sober and made amends. He even got to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing the legendary Knebworth Festival (while slaying a few of his demons).
Williams’ motto seemed to be “Why do, when you can overdo,” something he shares with director Gracey. Overstaying its welcome by a good 20 minutes, “Better Man” is an exercise in self-indulgence, both on and off-screen. But the surprisingly good special effects, combined with the catchy tunes, could have resulted in something much worse.
Rating: B-
