BETTER MAN
Starring: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany, Frazer Hadfield, Raechelle Banno, and Damon Herriman
Director: Michael Gracey
NICK
I’ve long been a fan of Robbie Williams, so perhaps I enjoyed Better Man as much as I did because of my familiarity with everything. But, honestly, I just think it’s a great film. Whether it’s the stylistic decisions that realistically shouldn’t work but do, or the spectacle of all the musical numbers, everything succeeds because of Robbie. A supremely creative (and narcissistic) showman, the man shies away from nothing to tell his story, demons and all. It makes for a refreshing and relatable examination. I was thrilled, I was moved, and as Robbie would have wanted, I was entertained. Give this one a shot.
ADRIANO
My expectations for Better Man were really low, given that director/co-writer Michael Gracey's last film, The Greatest Showman, is one of my least favourite movies ever. So in that regard, I suppose Better Man surpassed my expectations. The CGI monkey looks amazing, and I do admire how unsanitized the approach to Robbie Williams’ life is. That said, while the movie tries throwing some flashing lights and gimmicks at us, it doesn't change the fact that it follows an uninteresting and basic biopic format. It certainly wasn't as bad as I feared, but I'll never see it again.
AMARÚ
Music biopics with unique deliveries are now two for two in 2024. Better Man is an unadulterated window into Robbie Williams’ soul, full of heart and heartbreaking emotional resonance. Williams and Jonno Davies’ joint mo-cap performance harnesses every inch of Robbie’s hardships and triumphs, with CGI matching Matt Reeves’ Planet of the Apes-level detail. Combined with Michael Gracey’s direction, which is as visually evocative as Williams is a cheeky bastard, you have a full-blown emotional knock out. It’s a bit long, but when you get to see that deep into someone’s heart, you’ll take the extra minutes of laughs, smiles, and tears.
PAIGE
Better Man is a traditional and ostentatious musical biopic, but despite its unique take on the genre, once you peel back the layers, it’s just another generic rags-to-riches story. Without the CGI monkey (which looks fantastic), the film doesn’t really make a compelling case for Robbie Williams to have his story told. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is certainly amusing, and director Michael Gracey directs some of the best musical sequences of the year, but the overall narrative feels drawn out at times. Maybe if I were a bigger fan of Williams, I’d value this outlandish story more.
KATIE
Better Man, a musical biopic about Robbie Williams, who is portrayed as a CGI ape amongst an otherwise human cast, is a creative gamble that pays off spectacularly. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, and the addition of the CGI ape is wonderfully strange without distracting from the narrative, instead making it all the more captivating. Although it doesn’t stray from the usual rise-to-stardom biopic formula, the bold stylistic choices set it apart and enable a surprisingly emotionally engaging story that boasts immersive visuals and riotously entertaining musical setpieces.
This film was reviewed by Nick and Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
