The Stream: Why is Robbie Williams a monkey???

The Big Screen: Why is Robbie Williams a monkey!?!

The Final Bill: Why, Robbie Williams is a monkey!!!

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Michael Gracey
Writers: Michael Gracey, Oliver Cole, and Simon Gleeson
Stars: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman
Genre: Musical, Biography, Fantasy
Rating: R for drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some violent content.
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Production Companies: Footloose Productions, Lost Bandits, Sina Studios, Facing East Entertainment, Rocket Science
Platform: In theaters on January 10, 2025
Notable Trailers: Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Novocaine, Companion

What’s up, Streamers! There have been a lot of musicals in the last year. There have been a lot of biopics about musicians, as well. Better Man combines the two genres into one gonzo concoction filled with lively music and a monkey as the main character. This movie tells the story of former boy band member and international pop star, Robbie Williams. We follow Williams from his meager beginnings as a kid desperate to be somebody, as a teen as part of the British pop group, Take That, and through his struggles as a solo artist. It’s all told through some of Williams’ biggest hits. Did I mentioned that Robbie Williams in the movie is portray as a motion capture, CGI monkey? Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll and monkey business hijinks ensue.

As a Robbie Williams fan, I was already in the tank for this movie. However, the filmmakers really made an effort to set Better Man apart from other biopics about musicians. Making the main character a CGI monkey may seem like just a gimmick, but it perfectly encapsulates the metaphor of the pop star as an animal – like a trained monkey. This portrayal allows the movie to tap into something more emotional and avoids the inevitable comparison of whether an actor looks or sounds like the subject. In fact, Robbie Williams, himself, voices the character in this movie. Now, other than the CGI monkey and musical elements, the trajectory of the story is very familiar – a deadbeat dad, unscrupulous managers, failed romantic relationships, and lots of drugs and alcohol. If you think about your typical biopic about a musician, Better Man ticks a lot of the same boxes as those other movies. Luckily, Robbie Williams’ infectious and engaging music and persona help this film rise above being a mere carbon copy of those other movie.

Ultimately, Better Man is an entertaining take on the musical biopic. What could be seen as just a gimmick helps the film to be surprisingly emotional and avoid corny missteps of other movies in this genre. Moreover, the music is buoyant and will keep you bopping along. Robbie Williams fans will certainly enjoy it, so grab your box of popcorn on the way to the theater. For the uninitiated, Better Man is a good introduction to Williams and an entertaining movie to boot, but maybe a matinee viewing with a bowl of popcorn will suffice.