DVD Corner

Better Man 4K UHD Review

“Better Man” is a fresh take on a biopic. 

Written by Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole and Michael Gracey, 2024’s “Better Man” is a musical biopic about the life of singer/entertainer Robbie Williams. This isn’t an ordinary biopic, however, as Robbie Williams is depicted as a CGI ape. The idea is that Williams has often said that he felt like a performing monkey so that concept was taken to a whole other level with this film. In typical biopic fashion, the film traces Robbie’s life from childhood to adulthood. Among the subjects covered here are Robbie’s complicated relationship with his father Peter (who came and went throughout his life), Robbie’s close bond with his grandmother Betty, his time with the boy band Take That, his relationship with All Saints band member Nicole, his drug addiction, his battle with demons and mental health struggles, his solo career and his growth as a person.

“Better Man” was always a huge gamble. While Robbie Williams was a big star in England and Europe, his work wasn’t as well known in other parts of the world including America. Add in the fact that the movie had an extravagant budget due to the WETA FX for the ape and you have to wonder how this movie got made. Unsurprisingly, the movie went on to become a major box office bomb. Despite all of that, “Better Man” turned out to be a critically acclaimed, innovative and deeply personal biopic that puts a big twist on an otherwise stale formula.

It wouldn’t be shocking if this film went on to become a cult favorite or a streaming hit. “The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey certainly puts on a visual show in what can only be described as a bold and weird experiment. One would think the use of an ape as Robbie would be entirely distracting, but it somehow works. Not only do you forget you are watching an ape sing and dance, but the WETA FX are so spectacular and expressive that it manages to be just as emotional as any human performance in the film. In terms of the content itself, it’s a bare-all biopic that shows Robbie’s drive, talent, and struggles. Even if you aren’t familiar with Robbie Williams’ catalogue, you’ll find his life story engrossing. It helps that he even narrates the film and sings. The actual motion-capture performance was done by Jonno Davis who is really the heart and soul of the film. His chemistry with the great underrated Steve Pemberton (a British TV staple) is equally noteworthy.

If there were any knocks on the film it has to be why his biggest song “Millennium” was not included outside of a spot in a “Medley.” Aside from his apparent conflicted emotions about the song, it’s an odd choice to not prominently include this song not only from a marketing standpoint, but the standpoint of it being a major milestone in his music career.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? This Paramount Presents 4K disc offers up a sharp transfer of this stylistic film. The print maintains the grain as well.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? When it comes to a music centric film like this, you need a big audio track. Thankfully, this Atmos track delivers the goods (especially during the musical numbers and the tearful “My Way” finale).

Extras:
* Digital copy
* Blu-ray copy
* “Monkey Business: The VFX”- An insightful 15 ½ minute featurette on the visual effects.
* “Let Me Entertain You: The Making Of Better Man”- A 32 minute general featurette about how the project came about, the unique approach to telling Robbie Williams story, the real life figures, and more. Interviews with Robbie Williams and other cast and crew members, set footage and film clips are included.

May 3, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Ape, Better Man 4K UHD Review, Biopic, musical, Robbie Williams, Take That