Robbie Williams' Better Man earns rave reviews as critics laud 'utterly inspired' choice to portray singer as a chimp and declare film is 'pure monkey magic' that leaves other musical biopics 'in the dust'
Share:
Robbie Williams' musical biopic Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as 'riveting', 'bombastic' and 'utterly inspired'. The semi-biographical movie follows the singer's meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring.
![[The semi-biographical movie follows the singer's meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring (pictured in film)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/16/93497981-14227709-image-a-27_1735232307906.jpg)
But in a twist on the genre, the pop star, 50, is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else in human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voicework. And while critics have branded the decision a 'huge risk' and potentially 'stupid gambit', they declared it ended up being genius choice and 'one of the most inspired bits of casting of the year'.
![[But in a twist on the genre, the pop star, 50, is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else in human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voicework]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/16/93145469-14227709-The_pop_star_is_portrayed_by_actor_Jonno_Davies_in_the_form_of_a-a-24_1735232111101.jpg)
While they also heaped praise on director Michael Gracey for creating the right balance of fun-filled choreographed musical numbers with deep emotional scenes and said the film does best when delving into Robbie's vulnerability. In his four star review for Roger Egbert.com, Clint Worthington said the chimp gimmick was a 'smart move' that allowed Robbie to 'vulnerably share his lows while underplaying the pomp and circumstance of his highs.'.
![[While they also heaped praise on director Michael Gracey for creating the right balance of fun-filled choreographed musical numbers with deep emotional scenes and said the film does best when delving into Robbie's vulnerability (pictured at premiere in Paris this month)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/16/93397243-14227709-However_although_he_has_missed_out_on_the_Oscars_Robbie_still_ha-a-25_1735232127757.jpg)
Robbie Williams ' musical biopic Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as 'riveting', 'bombastic' and 'utterly inspired'. The semi-biographical movie follows the singer's meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring (pictured in film).
![[The Telegraph 's Robbie Collin said it was 'pure monkey magic' and praised Jonno for giving 'the best performance of this type since Andy Serkis’s Gollum in The Lord of the Rings']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/16/93497983-14227709-image-a-26_1735232219372.jpg)
