With 12 UK number ones, eight Brit awards, one Ivor Novello Award in 2012 for Outstanding Contribution to British Music, and having their 2009 tour “Circus” the fastest-selling in UK history, it’s fair to say that Take That are one of the most successful boy bands of all time.

Much of their success was down to Gary Barlow and his ability to write catchy pop songs. But there’s also the undeniable charisma and downright cheeky chappiness of one of its members – Robbie Williams.

He broke millions of hearts the day he announced that he left the band, but went on to have an impressive solo career. But his is a story of many, many highs – good and bad – and lows, as this creative biography shows.

Born in the rundown, Northern city of Stoke, Robert Williams had only one thing on his mind – fame.

His dad Peter (Steve Pemberton) was a huge fan of the rat pack, which rubbed off on Robert, as they would often watch their concerts on TV.

So when it was announced that a new boy band was being created, Robert (Jonno Davies) wanted in. It wasn’t the greatest audition, but Nigel Martin Smith (Damon Herriman) saw something in the cheeky 15-year-old and did indeed put him in the band, which was to be called Take That.

It was just the start of Robert’s career, who was told to change his name to Robbie, as he not only fell for the trappings of success but embraced them. But was it enough?

After his success with 2017’s The Greatest Showman, Australian director Michael Gracey hasn’t been in any great hurry to get behind the camera again, except for a documentary about Pink in 2021.

This is his first biopic then, and comes with a massive twist.

Throughout the film, Williams is represented as a talking, singing chimpanzee, so taking the saying “cheeky monkey” quite literally.

It’s the type of thing that is a little jarring at first, and then fairly quickly becomes the most natural thing in the world.

The effects are created by Peter Jackson’s Weta, who know their way around an ape or three having been responsible for the Planet of the Apes franchise, and look mightily impressive.

One of the issues surrounding the film however is the lack of surprises; Williams has lead the majority of his life in the spotlight, and has never been shy about his private life, with so much of it playing out in public. So even if you’re not the biggest fan, you’re already likely to be familiar with most of it.

There are a few notable scenes, such as the version of “Rock DJ” in London’s Regent Street, which have that set piece quality that Gracey achieved with his first film.

Unfortunately it’s a little too long – at two hours and ten minutes – and its appeal certainly wanes noticeably; of course a biopic is the definition of being self-absorbed, and yet there is a tangible sense of too much Robbie Williams by the end of it.

This may have been one of the reasons behind the films poor performance at the box office, taking in just $20 million on the back of a budget of $120 million. Also it wasn’t long after the 4-part Netflix documentary that dropped at the end of 2023, so with this soon after feeling like overkill.

It’s a shame because as an example of a biopic it’s brimming with creativity. It was a bold and brave move to not use actors, and one that seems to have backfired, at least commercially, but still makes for an enjoyable experience.

Better Man is an original take on a biopic, featuring one of the most charismatic pop stars this country has seen in years. But with Williams being so open about his past, with the drugs, booze and depression, which is all common knowledge from hardened fans to casual observers, all that was left was the monkeying around.