“Better Man” (2024)
I love Robbie Williams’ songs and I love musicals, but “Better Man” hit a lot of sour notes.
The film cleverly integrated some songs from Williams’ catalog into the story, and that is about the best thing I can say about this biopic.
The decision to make the character Robbie into a CGI monkey a la “Planet of the Apes” doubtlessly came from Williams’ viewing of himself as different from the rest or not “normal,” but it was honestly super distracting.
I am also getting a little miffed by biopics and documentaries about musicians who are in their 40s and 50s (or younger). Williams just turned 50 this year, and he likely has at least a couple more decades of life to live.
I know we should give people their flowers while they’re still around, but I believe lifetime achievement awards and the honor of seeing your life immortalized on the big screen should wait until you’re in your 70s or 80s.
This younger situation also popped up in the Lego documentary “Piece by Piece” earlier this year, a film highlighting the life of 51-year-old entertainer Pharrell Williams, and both films at times struck me as being driven by the ego of their subjects.
While it wasn’t quite as prevalent in “Piece by Piece,” “Better Man” feels like a massive ego trip.
I also question how well this biopic might do in finding an audience, especially in the United States. Like I said, I love some of Williams’ songs, but my husband had never heard of him nor any of the non-Frank Sinatra songs in the film.
Ultimately, “Better Man” is an irreverent and odd biopic that should only be seen by the biggest of Robbie Williams fans.