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It seems as though unconventional musical artist biopics are a new trend—with Pharrell Williams kicking it off by releasing a Lego-animated biopic, Piece by Piece, a few months ago. Now in Better Man, British pop star Robbie Williams tells his own story of the cost of fame—as played by an ape.
Better Man follows the superstar’s quest for fame, starting as a young boy growing up in a small town. Inspired by his dad, Peter (Steve Pemberton), and his own relentless quest for stardom, he lived for his moment in the spotlight. But from his first childhood stage performance, he suffered from debilitating stage fright and insecurity—always fearing that he didn’t really have what it takes. And as he rose to fame as a member of boy band Take That, he turned to drugs to fuel his notoriously unpredictable behavior.
The life of a pop star may seem like a dream: the fame and fortune, the screaming fans, the fabulous lifestyle. But Better Man doesn’t really show a lot of the fabulous parts. Instead, it shows a frightened, anxious, and depressed young man who always wanted more—while always fearing that he wasn’t good enough to get it. It shows his constant attempts to make his estranged father proud while pretending to be more confident, more outrageous, than he really felt.
The storytelling style definitely takes some getting used to—following an anthropomorphized ape (played by Jonno Davies) as he acts out the pop star’s story. For a while, it feels like one of the Planet of the Apes cast members stumbled onto the wrong set, and they just decided to run with it. But, while I can’t say that I’m convinced that it was the best choice for the film, it’s an interesting gimmick—and, by the end, you’ll be so caught up in the story that you’ll barely notice anymore. Most of this film is such an emotional roller coaster—a heartbreaking look at a man who achieved everything he wanted but was unable to enjoy it until he hit rock-bottom and had to fight his way back up again.
Here in the States, Robbie Williams may not be the household name that he is overseas, but you don’t need to be a fan of his work to appreciate his story—though, if you are a fan, the film will give you a new perspective on his music. Better Man is definitely a strange but moving biopic—and even if you’re only slightly familiar with his work, you’ll find yourself searching for his videos after you see his story.
Experience the story of ape-Robbie on the big screen when Better Man expands to theaters nationwide on January 17, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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