The original post: /r/movies by /u/ewok989 on 2024-12-30 14:06:10.

Went into this movie with low expectations and ended up really impressed.

Basically, it’s the story of Robbie Williams but he is replaced with a CGI ape. At first, it looks like it will be an annoying gimmick but somehow it works. In some ways, it’s even less distracting than an actor who looks a bit like Robbie but isn’t him.

What does the ape signify? Is it that entertainers are performing monkeys? For me at least, my takeway was that firstly, as Robbie Williams the mega star he is different to everyone around him. He took risks they didn’t take and achieved things they never did. In this sense, pop stars are indeed like another species or a variation on us regular folk. Either this is true or just the way I see pop stars, but that’s what made the CGI ape less jarring for me.

It also might be an unintentional critique on the similarity of all these biopics (they’re all loners who get rejected and find success and then turn to drugs and then go to rehab). In having an ape play Robbie removes a lot of his individual quirks, emphasizing that he’s just another guy going through this story arc we’ve all seen before. The ape both dehumanizes the subject but due to the originality of the idea make it more unique than any other biopic at the same time. Somehow, it works.

One thing I really enjoyed was the use of music. Not only were the dance montages thrilling but many of the songs thesmelves were remixed to have different sections or mixing of volume/drums or even complete reimaginings (in the case of 'Better Man) that make you as a fan of Robbie feel like you are re-experiencing his ouvre again. The most exciting segment was the Take That scene in London to Rock DJ. It capure the youth and optimism and excitement of this point of his life and career.

The use of music takes inspiration from ‘Rocket Man’ in that this isn’t like Bohemian Rhapsody - showing how certain songs came up in chronological order and made an impact. Instead, the emotional core of the songs is linked to various moments on Robbie’s life, sometimes the song is linked to a time far earlier than when it was written or recorded. This works because it gets to the core of the emotional root of the songs rather than just biographical detailings of the writing process.

As a child of the 90s myself, it was enjoyable seeing all these figures - from Oasis to All Saints to Gary Barlow - appear in various forms. Often, they just cariactures but all have their moments. Even though love interest Nicole Appleton is not on screen for long you can see the raw chemistry they have followed by a particularly dazzling dance number.

However, the emotional core of the movie is family. Starting with Robbie’s dad as nightclub performer inspiration and then his supportive mother and grandmother. There were numerous moments where I had tears streaming down my face as these early childhood connections are severed (either through death or disconnect) later in life and the various attempts at reconnection can’t help but make me (and I assume others) reflect on their own family dynamics.

For me, it’s the importance placed on family that put this above ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as it give the movie a heart transcending the superstar rise and fall arc. Despite the ape, this is all too human.