You are not dreaming. Robbie Williams is reimagined as a talking, walking, and dancing chimpanzee in “Better Man”. Williams himself approved of this creative gamble, and quite interesting to get the film in the spotlight amidst a long list of musician biopics all year long that includes Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Amy Winehouse.
Williams isn’t a household name in most countries as he was in the United Kingdom, so it does make sense to create a hook for audiences who may not be familiar with his life and career. While watching the film, I was eagerly expecting Williams to show up in his human form and explain to the viewers why he had to push for something as expensive and time-consuming as being turned into a chimp. It didn’t happen, so I guess it’s something you must accept halfway in.
“Better Man” explores Robbie Williams from being a bullied kid to a talented teenager with aspirations, being part of a British boy band, and the rise and fall of his successful solo music career. These types of movies have lived up to the expectations of the music biopics that came before, but it’s hard to disengage in “Better Man” because you feel it isn’t hiding something from you. At some points, the film plays out like a confession of a flawed man looking back on his shortcomings.
And it’s all fun too. “Better Man” is filled with some of the most exciting musical numbers in recent memory (and we just had “Wicked”!). I’m still reeling from that “Rock DJ” sequence because where else can you get a movie number that energetic this year?
“Better Man” is a surprisingly good watch. With an abundance of films about rock stars in the last few years, it’s easy to keep your hopes down for films like these. But this one paid off and certainly, no monkey business.
“Better Man” will be showing in New Zealand cinemas this Boxing Day from Roadshow.
Featured images from Roadshow.
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