Movie Review: “Better Man” – A Bizarre, Yet Bold Biopic of Robbie Williams
Michael Gracey, the director behind the surprise hit The Greatest Showman, returns with Better Man, a musical biopic about British pop star Robbie Williams. But this isn’t your typical biopic—it features a CGI monkey as the main character. Yes, you read that right: Robbie Williams is portrayed as a singing, dancing chimpanzee throughout the entire film.
This unexpected twist was kept under wraps until Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, where it quickly became the talk of the event. The film, set to be released by Paramount in December, blends the familiar highs and lows of a musician’s life story with an oddball premise that leaves audiences divided.
venue: Telluride Film Festival
cast: Robbie Williams, Jono Davis, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman
director: Michael Gracey
Writer: Michael Gracey, Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole
Movie Length: 2 hr 14 min
In Better Man, Williams’ character, though voiced and performed (through motion capture) by Williams himself, is depicted as a CGI monkey. Actor Jono Davis brings the chimp to life with surprisingly expressive facial animations. The film navigates Robbie’s life, from his troubled upbringing to his boy band days and his struggle with addiction—all while maintaining the conceit of the monkey protagonist.
The film’s surreal nature is both its strength and its weakness. The emotional scenes, particularly those involving Robbie’s relationships with his grandmother (Alison Steadman) and his unreliable father (Steve Pemberton), manage to resonate despite the outlandish concept. Gracey and his team infuse these moments with a surprising depth, even as the audience is constantly reminded that they’re watching a CGI chimp.
Comparisons to biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman are inevitable, especially given Gracey’s involvement as an executive producer on the latter. However, Better Man’s biggest challenge is its central conceit. Unlike Freddie Mercury or Elton John, Robbie Williams isn’t as universally recognized, making it harder for audiences to connect with his story—especially when it’s told through the lens of a CGI monkey.
The film also covers Robbie’s struggles with drug addiction, leading to a support group scene that’s as bizarre as it is poignant, with Williams’ monkey being the sole non-human attendee.
One of the film’s standout sequences is the grand concert finale, where Robbie performs Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” in front of a cheering crowd. The scene is beautifully choreographed, but the choice of song feels oddly out of place, adding to the overall surreal experience. The performance is intended to be triumphant, yet it may leave viewers scratching their heads.
Better Man is an ambitious, if not entirely successful, experiment. Some viewers at Telluride reportedly walked out during the screening, unable to reconcile the film’s whimsical concept with its dramatic moments. However, for those willing to embrace the absurdity, Better Man offers a wild, energetic ride that could one day achieve cult status. Whether it becomes a beloved oddity or simply a head-scratcher remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Better Man is unlike any biopic you’ve seen before.
