Better Man tells Robbie Williams’ story, with a twist. Yes, he is a monkey the entire movie. Yes, it works. It really, really works.
Admittedly I did not know much about Robbie Williams before watching Better Man, so when it was announced, it barely hit my radar. Then the trailer was released and the decision to have Williams be portrayed as a monkey for the entire film intrigued me. After watching this movie, I can say this was a brilliant decision.
Better Man comes hot on the heels of Pharrell Williams’ Piece By Piece, which also puts a unique flair on the mundane documentary by being a LEGO movie. I hope this starts a trend because documentaries and biopics are normally not my thing, but I could get used to this.
The movie starts off surprisingly sexual (I told you all, I did not know much about Robbie Willaims before watching Better Man) considering he is a young(ish) boy when it picks up. That said, it did not take long for me to recognize that this is completely on-brand for Williams.
There is a reason this movie is R-rated. It is not a fun one to take the kids to, trust me. His life is filled to the brim with sex, drugs, and alcohol. And yes, I know what you are thinking, what does this look like when the main character is a monkey? The initial answer is ridiculous. It is silly and strange and feels out of place – for about ten minutes. After that, it just makes sense.
There are many incredible dance numbers that are a blast to watch. Every performance brings something new and exciting to the screen. It does not take long for you to forget that you are watching a monkey – which feels weird to say but is true.
Robbie Williams being a monkey in Better Man is done so because that is how he sees himself. He feels like an animal, dancing on stage for money and attention, which is incredibly heartbreaking. There are moments in this movie that I was wiping away tears, but others where I was laughing so hard my cheeks hurt.
I had heard of Take That and I recognized more songs than I thought I would, but what I enjoyed the most was feeling like Williams is letting viewers into his personal life. He lets us see him even at his lowest moments, which does not go unappreciated. That is the reason I found myself relating to certain moments and feeling like I had connected with him.
Sometimes the humor and inuendos are a bit too much, and Better Man certainly could have been edited down to two hours instead of two hours and eleven minutes, but I was entertained the whole way through. The movie did feel like the ending went on a bit too long, but I still enjoyed watching every sequence – if that makes sense.
I have a new appreciation for Robbie Williams and I loved getting to learn more about how certain songs came about. I did not expect Better Man, a movie starring a monkey as Robbie Williams, to be one of my favorite films of the year, but here we are.
Better Man comes to select theaters on December 25, 2024, and nationwide on January 17, 2025.
NEXT: Piece By Piece Review: Mesmerizing, Unique, & Inspiring
About Better Man
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 Robbie’s 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.
Better Man comes to select theaters on December 25, 2024, and nationwide on January 17, 2025.
