Robbie Williams’ musical biopic Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as ‘riveting’, ‘bombastic’ and ‘utterly inspired’.
The semi-biographical movie follows the singer’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring.
But in a twist on the genre, the pop star, 50, is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else in human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voicework.
And while critics have branded the decision a ‘huge risk’ and potentially ‘stupid gambit’, they declared it ended up being genius choice and ‘one of the most inspired bits of casting of the year’.
While they also heaped praise on director Michael Gracey for creating the right balance of fun-filled choreographed musical numbers with deep emotional scenes and said the film does best when delving into Robbie’s vulnerability.
In his four star review for Roger Egbert.com, Clint Worthington said the chimp gimmick was a ‘smart move’ that allowed Robbie to ‘vulnerably share his lows while underplaying the pomp and circumstance of his highs.’
Robbie Williams ‘ musical biopic Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as ‘riveting’, ‘bombastic’ and ‘utterly inspired’
The semi-biographical movie follows the singer’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring (pictured in film)
He added: ‘You won’t see another music biopic quite like “Better Man,” regardless of your level of familiarity with its subject. There’s a surfeit of charm here that helps sell the nonsensical gimmick’.
While The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin agreed, also giving the flick four stars and declaring: ‘The Take That singer’s decision to tell his life story via a CGI chimpanzee may seem stupid – but it’s utterly inspired’.
He said it was ‘pure monkey magic’ and praised Jonno for giving ‘the best performance of this type since Andy Serkis’s Gollum in The Lord of the Rings’, writing: ‘The physical integration is seamless; the emotional fine details rivetingly subtle and present.’
And in another four star review, Empire’s Alex Godfrey said that the risk payed off because it ‘elevates everything we see on screen, making it all both heightened and, somehow, more relatable.’
Alex wrote that the monkey idea makes us even more sympathetic to Robbie’s story, saying: ‘The conceit works wonders: the little animalistic physical touches make him feel like enough of an actual animal that we care for him considerably more than we would if he were a human lookalike.’
While the four star review in the Financial Times echoed his thoughts, with Danny Leigh saying: ‘the animal magic is a masterstroke, giving a surreal twist to what would otherwise simply be grim, and capturing a certain sad, strange truth about the subject.’
However, The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw had a very different view of the chimpanzee twist in his three star review, saying the ‘the ironising and surreal effect wears off’ throughout the film.
Voicing his disagreement with the other critics, he said: ‘The film is interestingly candid about the toxic, driving force of envy behind a musical career – but in the end, however initially startling and amusing, Robbie-as-chimp feels like a distraction from his all-too-human unhappiness and talent.’
But in a twist on the genre, the pop star, 50, is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else in human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voicework
While they also heaped praise on director Michael Gracey for creating the right balance of fun-filled choreographed musical numbers with deep emotional scenes and said the film does best when delving into Robbie’s vulnerability (pictured at premiere in Paris this month)
But in Kristy Puchko’s review on Mashable, she said that seeing Robbie as a literal animal ‘brings a fresh perspective and an enthralling blend of humour and vulnerability’ that made Better Man ‘the best music biopic since the rousing splendor of Elton John’s Rocketman’.
She added that the film is also backed by ‘a terrific supporting cast’ and praised the film as ‘riveting’ because ‘it embraces a warts-and-all approach that doesn’t shy away from Williams’ darkest moments.’
And Time Out’s Kaleem Aftab was in full agreement, giving the ‘a fun, bombastic, brilliant choreographed and totally enthralling film’ top marks of five stars.
While he also declared it outstripped other movies of the genre, writing: ‘When it comes to musical biopics, William’s might be out front on his own.
‘Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody are just two of the lauded films left in the dust by Better Man.’
The official synopsis of Robbie’s new film reads: ‘Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
‘Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (‘The Greatest Showman’), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit.
‘It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.’
The Telegraph ‘s Robbie Collin said it was ‘pure monkey magic’ and praised Jonno for giving ‘the best performance of this type since Andy Serkis’s Gollum in The Lord of the Rings’
Robbie previously addressed the outlandish choice to portray himself as a chimp on The Graham Norton Show in an episode that’s set to air on New Year’s Eve.
He explained: ‘There needed to be a creative difference because the biopic genre has got a bit long and a bit tired, so we needed a unique selling point.
‘When I heard everyone else in the film would be human and I would be a monkey I thought, “Yes! This is an eccentric idea, it’s a huge swing, I can instantly see it, it’s incredible.” It was only when I told my wife I realised it might be contentious.’
After being asked if he enjoyed watching it, he said: ‘It starts out all cheeky chappie and then 45 minutes in it is just like Trainspotting – it’s like the greatest hits of trauma and grief so yes, it’s a bit confronting, a bit triggering.’
