Better Man review: An intriguing tale of an ego driven showman!

Better Man stars a CGI chimpanzee as the lead instead of an actual actor to play Britain’s pop star Robbie Williams, and it actually fits. 

Better Man review: Directed by Michael Gracey, Better Man is a biopic about Robbie Williams. Just like me, many of you might not know who he is but it turns out he was a big deal to all of Britain at one point. Better Man on the surface, sounds like yet another biopic on a musician but what makes it different and stand out from the plethora of films in this genre is that the lead here is a chimpanzee who stands as a metaphor for his entire life. It sounds like a wild choice in comparison to actually casting an actor to play him but as Robbie Williams himself mentions in an interview, he often feels like a performing monkey and the makers of the film seem to have taken his word quite literally!

The story takes us through all the expected beats in a musician’s life. From his breakthrough as a member of ‘Take That’ to his record breaking career as a solo artist, we go through it all! But the CGI ape gimmick not only works for the best but also adds a humorous touch to it. If you’d want to watch the journey of a musician in a quintessential way, there’s a plethora of movies and documentaries for that but if you want to watch a monkey cast as the lead, doing coke in the bathroom or let his ego grow bigger each day then this movie is one hundred percent your vibe! It’s like Planet of The Apes blending into a dazzling musical which somehow just gets you interested about a public figure you absolutely had no idea about!

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There’s also a lot of life lessons to learn from Robbie Williams. His mistakes, his positive outlook towards life and his charm even in his darkest moments serve as a reminder to keep your inner child alive no matter what! More than a biopic, the movie eventually made me feel like I am watching the life of a fictional showman where there’s romance, drama, extravagant musical numbers and the double edged sword that we call fame! The supporting characters not only elevate William’s story but also have arcs of their own that you either feel deeply for or understand why certain people were important to include to portray his journey.

The film is about how Robbie Williams becomes a ‘better man’ as the title suggests. The CGI for the chimp in the lead is so accurate that it almost feels like an actor has put on a mask to bring all the emotions to the table like any other human would! More than a biopic, I’d describe Better Man as the ideal watch for a weekend binge, it sure isn’t something that we’ve seen before!

Better Man is currently streaming on LionsgatePlay!

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