Better Man: Fame, Family and Finding Yourself

Release Date：Jan/10/2025

Genre：Docudrama/Biography/Fantasy/Music/Musical

Director：Michael Gracey

Cast：Robbie Williams、Jonno Davies、Steve Pemberton、Alison Steadman、Kate Mulvany

Viola's Rating：8.3

After the Trump-inspired feature film The Apprentice closed out 2024, Hollywood is set to kick off 2025 with two other biographical films: Better Man and A Complete Unknown. Director Michael Gracey, renowned for his work on biographical musical docudramas, has unveiled his latest flick about the once-bad-boy Robbie Williams, which premiered on January 10, 2025.

Based on his true-life story, this biographical musical docudrama fantasy chronicles the meteoric rise, dramatic fall and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.

From bad boy to Better Man, Robbie Williams reflects on his journey of healing and indulgence and reveals how awful he was during those wild days and how he transformed into the better man he is today. As such, Better Man isn’t a motion picture about self-pity but one about finding yourself and learning to stop hating who you are. 

Like many young stars, Robbie Williams shot to fame at the tender age of 16, forcing him to confront the challenges that come with sudden stardom. Better Man portrays his struggles through his relationships with important people: his entertainer father, Pete Conway; his envious rivalry with Take That’s lead singer, Gary Barlow; and his immature yet unforgettable romance with Nicole Appleton. 

As a musical, Better Man features several spectacular group dance sequences reminiscent of High School Musical and La La Land. Two particularly brilliant scenes include the one recounting Take That’s rise to fame and the scene depicting how Robbie met Nicole Appleton knew each other.

Before watching Better Man, some might wonder why Robbie Williams is depicted as a chimpanzee. Unlike his well-known hits Angels, Millennium and She’s the One, Williams’ lesser-known track Me and My Monkey might shed some light on this creative choice. In an interview, Williams once confessed that during his Take That era, he felt like he was being “dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey.” The monkey imagery also symbolizes his out-of-control teenage years. While the movie begins with Williams narrating his own story, the perspective is framed through how he sees himself rather than how others perceive him or how he appears under the spotlight. This approach allows the picture to explore a deeper, more personal side of Williams.

Although much of Better Man focuses on Williams’ wild days, the tone softens toward the end to highlight his loving family. Despite his parents divorcing when he was only three, Williams maintained close relationships with both. His reconciliation with his father, his gratitude toward his mother and the loss of his beloved grandmother are among the most heartfelt moments in the feature film.

Whether or not you’re a die-hard fan of Robbie Williams, you’ll find Better Man to be an outstanding biopic that delivers a raw, emotional and ultimately inspiring portrayal of one of Britain’s most iconic pop stars.

Picture Credit: IMDb