A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years.
Anybody who knows me knows I do not like musicals. I find it almost impossible to watch a film where characters are caught up in serious conversation and then suddenly break out into song, it simply takes me out of the picture and reminds me that I’m watching a musical instead of observing real-life characters and their stories, which is the illusion movies are supposed to accomplish. The one exception is “Grease,” a movie I began watching when I was a kid and because I was so young and because of the film’s catchy tunes, it never bothered me as it was a fun time, from beginning to end. Dexter Fletcher took over directing duties from Bryan Singer when he was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” and, being perfectly honest, it’s not easy to see what was his stamp and what was Singer’s but with “Rocketman,” it is Fletcher all the way. With “Bohemian Rhapsody,” it wasn’t so much a musical as it was a drama with Queen’s songs interspersed throughout, not characters jumping up and singing to the camera, we got to see Freddie Mercury and his bandmates practice in the studio, or watch them perform live on stage, that is not a musical, in the truest term, and I was eternally grateful for that aspect as I was able to enjoy the movie so much more.
If “Rocketman” had followed in “Bohemian Rhapsody’s” footsteps and allowed us to observe Elton John, from the time he was a child to his stint in rehab as an adult, and all the drama that happened in between, without having his character periodically sing to the audience, it would have made for a much better film. The drama in “Bohemian Rhapsody” was convincing because of this essential feature but when we are watching serious moments from Elton John’s life swirl around in front of us by talented dancers and musicians, it gives the movie an almost surreal ambiance that, in the end, feels more fabricated than genuine. I’ve been a big fan of Elton John’s for many years and knew much about his life story so when it was announced that Taron Egerton would be playing him in “Rocketman,” my curiosity was piqued, and in spite of the fact that I didn’t care too much for the movie itself, Mr. Egerton made every scene justifiable. He perfectly inhabits Elton John’s characteristics and mannerisms, and in some shots, he is the living embodiment of Mr. John himself, physically and emotionally. He quite literally, disappears into his role and I wouldn’t be surprised if he receives a Best Actor nomination come Oscar time.
“Rocketman” is a biopic of Mr. John’s life and begins in his childhood years where he lived in Middlesex to him gradually becoming an awkward teen and then moving into adulthood. It concentrates on some high points in his life and career but about halfway through the film, you realize that the story seems to be focusing more and more on the negative aspects of his life, failed relationships, the pitfalls of being famous, drug use, the fallout from him coming out as gay, and never having the familial support of either his mother and father, and soon thereafter, you find yourself sinking more and more into depression, along with the characters onscreen. While Elton John’s life and career are indeed a cause for celebration, the movie never quite lives up to that level of commendation, instead, it feels like a by-the-numbers, film-of-the-week drama where you know how everything is going to pan out, from beginning to end. The supporting cast does fine in their respective roles, especially Jamie Bell in the part of Mr. John’s lifelong friend Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics for most of John’s songs.
In the end, Mr. Egerton elevates “Rocketman” above mediocrity by offering a magnificent and unaffected performance, the best he has given to date. Director Dexter Fletcher sadly offers nothing new to Elton John’s life story but that’s not all his fault, after all, Mr. John climbed the ladder of success like so many other influential musicians before him and I’m sure they, and those who have come since, have encountered much of what Mr. John experienced himself so in essence, many of these musicians’ lives and careers, would probably be very similar when all’s said and done. And the day a filmmaker can put a fresh spin on something that has been told over and over again, is the day a new genre will be born.
Now available on Digital HD and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD August 27th
