‘Better Man’ is a Unique, Entertaining Robbie Williams Biopic

Better Man

★ ★ ★ ½

‘Better Man’ takes a look at the career of British pop star Robbie Williams with a unique spin. Instead of an actor playing Williams, or him playing himself, he’s represented as a CGI chimpanzee. Throughout most of the film, Williams provides the voice for the representative chimp, except when the film takes a look at his childhood. At that point, it’s voiced by Carter J. Murphy.

Williams said he felt a chimp would represent him better to audiences because people like cute, furry animals. I’m not sure that’s why it works in this film, but it works nonetheless. I expected this gimmick to distract from the story more than it did.

Allison Steadman and Carter J. Murphy
© 2025 Paramount Pictures

We follow Williams from his childhood to his career as a solo artist. While his childhood wasn’t as tragic as other musicians, his father Peter (Steve Pemberton) left before his teen years. During this time, Williams lives in a flat with his mom Janet (Kate Mulvany) and nan Betty (Alison Steadman).

He auditions for the fifth spot in the early 1990s boy-band Take That and earns a spot in the group. He quickly discovers that the manager’s demands and the confines of the group stifle his creativity. Five years later, he goes solo.

The movie shows Williams’ ups and downs in his mostly successful solo career. He develops a relationship with fellow singer Nicole Appleton (Raechelle Banno), which becomes threatened by his growing cocaine addiction and unfaithfulness.

Robbie Williams as a chimpanzee
© 2025 Paramount Pictures

I think the chimp gimmick works, because we get a sense that Williams feels a bit like a trained showbiz monkey. He must do the bidding of the industry or risk failure. He does what he’s told only when he has to, and sometimes, not even then.

Throughout the film, Williams sees visions of himself in crowds while performing. The visions are not friendly and represent his fears – or not being good enough. The visions tell him he’s nothing, that he’s going to die or that he’s a failure. This is also where the allegorical CGI chimp makes sense.

“Better Man” is a good, entertaining film. I thought it was well written and paced. Honestly, I had no idea who Robbie Williams was before seeing this movie. I can’t say my life is better for it, but at least if I’m asked at a social event I can respond affirmatively.

Whether the gimmick works for the box office remains to be seen.