• Release year: 2024
• Director: Michael Gracey.
• Producers: Paul Currie, Jules Daly, Michael Gracey, Coco Xiaolu Ma, and Craig McMahon.
• Screenplay by: Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, and Michael Gracey.
• Cinematography by: Erik Wilson.
• Music by: Batu Sener.

Shotgun Commentary: your average celebrity story with great musical numbers and a fun twist.

Review

Better Man yet another biopic of a famous white male. How many more of those do we need? It’s debatable, but production companies sure love to make them regardless. The feature confirms what could have been easily guessed, that the story of Robbie Williams is pretty much like all the other stories of people who got famous too fast, too young. Still, we let him entertain us, and entertain us he does.

Better monkey

First things first, why the hell is Caesar (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 2011) in a movie about Robbie Williams? Well, that’s the twist, Caesar IS Robbie Williams. The metaphor is as on your face as expected, remember Steve Rogers drawing a monkey on a unicycle between performances in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)? Well, it is exactly the same, only no one punches Hitler in this one.

The attempt at being different by changing how you present the main character is quite interesting, though. It solves lots of casting issues and the cringe of seeing cheap rejuvenating CGI. Sadly, it can’t make the story original or unique.

Despite how inspiring a rags-to-riches story with an added drug-addiction struggle can be, there is nothing new about it. A great majority of people who get really famous at an early age tend to go down a tragic black hole of drugs and bad decisions in front of an uncaring, detached audience that doesn’t love them, but their public personas. In that sense, Better Man brings absolutely nothing new to the table.

Priorities

The most interesting part of the story is the point of view. Not because it is innovative, but because of the importance given to the people around Robbie (Robbie Williams and Jonno Davies). The main characters in Robbie’s life are his bandmates, parents, grandmother, and best friend. The first get the attention that’s due, as well as his best friend. They don’t overstay their welcome and some tea about their real relationship is spilled. However, it is the family that is specially interesting.

Like all men with little self-esteem, daddy issues are a must in his life. Getting abandoned at a young age is incredibly hard for anyone, and it often gives people a sense of inadequacy they never really shake off. The impact of this traumatic event on Robbie’s mental health is laid out, as well as how he decided to deal with the rocky relationship with his father.

So much, so little

As for his grandmother, clearly a great influence in his life, he shows his appreciation just like he did with the release of “Angels” in 1997. She is the heart of the story and, as such, her loss is the most heartbreaking moment of the film.

Nevertheless, and here is where is gets real good, what about the mother? Well, she went through the same abandonment as Robbie, the same neglect as his grandmother, only she also had to deal with a drug-addict son, a sick mother, and paying the bills. She spends the whole film doing dishes, laundry, or going to work. And her recognition? Still to be seen.

She is not amongst the people Robbie sees fit to do grand gestures of apology. Even his father, who literally does the bare minimum and not out of his own volition, gets more recognition than that woman. Comes to show why speeches about the value of women and mothers like that of America Ferrera in Barbie (2023) are so relevant in today’s society and so liberating for women to hear.

Jazz hands

Focusing on the more technical aspects of the film, it is key to acknowledge the great work of the animators. They carry 70% of the weight of this film, a product that depends solely on them to stand out from all the other famous-rich-white-male biopics that plague the industry. They have created most of the attraction, the rest of which relays on Williams’ wonderful hits. Put both talents together, and you get some really entertaining musical numbers that help you connect and understand with the protagonist’s mindset at each moment of his life.

All in all, Better Man is as fun as it is tragic, bringing audiences closer to the reality behind the huge legend that it is Robbie Williams. Despite the lack of demand for yet more biopics about how men become huge stars and break under the weight of fame, Gracey has managed to create a musical biopic that looks somewhat fresh and it is, indeed, entertaining.

Thanks to EFD for big-screen access! Better Man will be released the 26th of December in UK.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Kids, don’t do drugs.
• Having money for something doesn’t mean you should buy it.
• Don’t get into a relationship with someone because you can fix them. You can’t.

What’s your take? Have you watched Better Man? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀