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‘Better Man’ Review: An Apes**t Musical Epic

Poster for the film Better Man. Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Poster for the film Better Man. Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Robbie Williams biopic Better Man is stunning some viewers while leaving others confused. The decision to make himself into a monkey is being considered both a silly or a genius decision depending on who you ask. I agree with the latter.

Better Man is a film that completely took me by surprise. I knew nothing about Robbie Williams before I saw it- I didn’t even know who he was. I had heard his song “Angels” before, but that was the extent of my Williams knowledge.

The film takes a totally new approach with the tired “biopic” genre. It may seem silly on the surface (and, even still, silly beneath the surface). But there’s something equally surreal and touching about this pop star’s odd decision.

The Man behind the Monkey

Robbie Williams mocapping for 'Better Man'. Credit: Paramount Pictures
Robbie Williams mocapping for Better Man. Credit: Paramount Pictures

So yes, let’s just say, Better Man will most likely be heralded as “The Monkey Movie” by those who have both seen and haven’t seen the movie alike. I’ve heard many an argument as to why Williams made this decision. Some say it’s simply a gimmick to draw in crowds to the theater. Others think there’s a much, much deeper reasoning going on behind it all. I’ll take Robbie Williams’ word for it- which he says in about the first five minutes of the film- he wanted to show us “the way he sees himself.”

That seals it for me- just a bold and brilliant creative choice- stripping a pop star down to his primal roots. I’ve seen this film three times now, and while the main “character” being a monkey takes some getting used to- it really works. Eventually it just becomes normal, and you really start to feel for this primate. It also allows scenes of total animal behavior, which works brilliantly within the themes of Williams’ story.

What makes Better Man Better?

Robbie Williams and Damon Herriman talk shop in Better Man. Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Robbie Williams and Damon Herriman talk shop in Better Man. Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Seen one musical biopic? Seen ’em all. That’s a lot of people’s opinion on the subgenre, and I can’t completely disagree. While I loved A Complete Unknown, these stories of fame and misfortune tend to follow a similar route. That’s why the best musical biopics make you feel like you’re watching something completely new- and Better Man does that to a tee. Take away the Monkey for a second and you still have one of the boldest, most visually stunning films that’s been made in years. That being said- the Monkey visual effects are insane! Like, totally unbelievable. The fact that they are so consistent throughout the entire two hour plus runtime? Amazing.

In some musicals, or musical biopics, the music can get in the way. This is a real test of technical skill, blending songs into a story without feeling ham-fisted. It’s not just the way the songs erupt like a symphony of emotion and excitement, it’s the way the visuals and audio work together to create something unreal. After three viewings, there are still several sequences that really make me wonder just how they pulled that off. There are traditional scenes one would see in a musical, sure. The typical concert scenes and such- but there are some scenes (I don’t dare spoil!)- that just grab your eyeballs and refuse to let go.

A Heartbreaking Story

Alison Steadman and Carter J. Murphy. Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Alison Steadman and Carter J. Murphy. Credit: Paramount Pictures.

I must warn you- this movie will make you cry. If you’re human, that is, and heck, probably even if you’re a monkey. Everyone has been through something- especially pop-stars who get hooked on drugs and have their share of family drama. But what makes this story so relatable is that Robbie Williams narrates the film himself. And while any “based on a true story” film is sure to have embellishments, he shares so many dark truths that it’s hard to believe he would lie about much anything else.

There is plenty that happens to Robbie that we have seen happen to other famous people, but its the choice to be so vulnerable that really scratches that itch. Many biopics can feel hollow or disingenuous because they’re simply telling someone else’s story. Better Man is Robbie Williams telling us the Robbie Williams story- and its done with such style, and such grand emotion, that its likely to touch even the most cynical of viewers. There are countless scenes that snowball into one another, shocking the audience into silence until finally the entire theater is sniffling. (Every. Damn. Time. There was sniffling. Believe me.)

A Fun, No Holds-Barred, Cinematic Style

Robbie Williams and "Take That" take to the streets of London. Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Robbie Williams and “Take That” take to the streets of London. Credit: Paramount Pictures.

I’ve forgotten to mention the film’s director at this point, Michael Gracey. Holy crap, that man has talent. He did a pretty good job with The Greatest Showman, but golly, this movie makes that movie look like a “Kidz Bop” music video. Every transition, every landscape for each musical number, and especially, every performance pierces through the screen. The wacked-out, dream-like style of this monkey-musical is overwhelming, but credit to Gracey for making it so digestible. Each scene and beat of Williams’ story flows together seamlessly, years passing by in minutes without you even noticing. By the time the thing is over, its hard to believe everything that happened when it first started! But dammit do they tie it up with one of the most heart-warming and beautiful “full circles” I’ve seen in a long time.

His Way

Robbie Williams sings cabaret. Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Robbie Williams sings cabaret. Credit: Paramount Pictures.

What I respect most about the film is just Williams’ audacity to do it at all. He wanted to tell his story, he wanted to be a monkey, and he wanted to tell the world every dark, gritty, and devastating detail of his rise and fall and rise again in the music industry. It’s raw, it’s hilarious, and it’s poignant as hell. I never would’ve expected a biopic starring a foul-mouthed ape to garner so much love from myself, but it did, and continues to do so. While it may not being doing well at the American box office, and while many people might refuse to see the “Monkey Movie”, the few who do make the effort will find themselves plenty rewarded.

Better Man is still playing at select theaters, and will likely be streaming on one of those apps in the near future. Check it out.

Written By

Writer, filmmaker, and absolute movie nerd, Kevin Reardon studied English, Cinema Studies, and Creative Writing at Rutgers University. While horror is his favorite genre, there is no film that he will not watch.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Paula

    February 2, 2025 at 5:00 am

    My whole family loved this flick! I’ve been obsessed with Robbie ever since! YouTube has 30+ yrs of his work & Netflix has an awesome docu-series on him!

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