In the U.K., Robbie Williams is a major megastar — and has been for decades. But not so much in the U.S. For whatever reason, Williams’ charming, edgy pop tunes and self-deprecating sense of humor never have quite clicked with Americans.
That might change with the new biopic about Williams, “Better Man,” which first opened in theaters on Dec. 25 but is about to go wide on Jan. 17.
Following the beats of a classic biopic, “Better Man” has a major twist: Williams — who voices and sings the character — is portrayed as a computer-generated chimpanzee.
Let’s find out why.
Who is Robbie Williams?
Williams, now 50, got his start in a big boy band that debuted in the 1990s called Take That. They were huge in the U.K., and still rock out today with three members (but not Williams).
Williams left in 1995 and went solo, releasing his debut album, “Life thru a Lens” in 1997. His single “Angels” was a hit in the U.K., but only charted at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. — though it’s since been covered by artists ranging from Jessica Simpson to Josh Groban.
Williams has since gone on release 14 studio albums, with seven No. 1 singles in the U.K., and broke a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling 1.6 million tickets in one day to his “Close Encounters Tour.”
His life hasn’t been all broken records and chart-toppers. He’s had to overcome mental health issues and addictions over the years, as the movie depicts.
He is now married to the American actor Ayda Field and they live in Los Angeles with their four children.
What is ‘Better Man’?
“Better Man” is a live-action biopic about Williams in which he’s portrayed as a chimpanzee, unlike everyone else in the film. No characters comment on his appearance, however.
The movie follows his story of great fame and great talent, battling with emotional pain, illness and estrangement with his father.
Williams is his own narrator and singer in the film, while Jonno Davies plays the chimp form. The movie is directed by Michael Gracey, who also directed Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron in 2017’s “The Greatest Showman.”
Weta FX, the special effects team behind the “Lord of the Rings” and “Planet of the Apes” reboots, are behind the movie magic.
Why is Robbie Williams an ape in ‘Better Man’?
First off, let’s be clear: Chimpanzees are not monkeys — even if that’s the word often used to describe the “Better Man” character. Chimps are apes. (The quickest way to tell between an ape and a monkey? Whether the animal has a tail. Apes don’t have them; monkeys generally do)
As to why Williams is a chimp? Well, it’s a metaphor.
In a promotional video where Williams and Gracey interview each other, Gracey told his star, “In your own words you would refer to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey. I immediately thought of portraying you not as we see you, but as how you see yourself.”
“With your voice and that monkey, I’m going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to be more engaging than yet another musical biopic,” Gracey added.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Williams said that he’s identified with primates for a long time.
“My MO has been cheeky,” he said. “I’ve been a cheeky monkey all my life. There’s no more cheekier monkey than the coke-snorting, sex-addict monkey that we find in the movie.”
Plus, Williams said, the gimmick was a way for the audience to better identify with him.
“We care for animals more than we care for humans, most of us,” he said.
Speaking to USA Today, Williams also called the premise “genius” in the way that it hooks audiences.