One of the biggest box office hits of last year was Bohemian Rhapsody. Generating almost $900 million worldwide, just about every studio is looking to capitalize on Bohemian’s success. Rocketman, telling the story of queer legend Elton John, has Paramount expecting this to ride on the Queen film’s coattails. Rocketman’s director, Dexter Fletcher, even directed parts of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Long-time readers might have read my review of Bohemian Rhapsody. To put it bluntly, I did not care for it. Take out the iconic music, and it’s just an inconsistent, forgettable music drama. However, what makes Rocketman stand out is how it takes the biopic formula and adapts it as a jukebox musical.
A Jukebox Musical Format
Instead of simply going through Elton’s life story, Rocketman weaves his long discography into the plot. Tunes like Tiny Dancer and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are used to represent Elton at his highs and lows rather than using them to pad out the soundtrack. Here is where Rocketman really shines. These sequences bend between fantasy and reality, and Fletcher’s direction is at its most lively. Both him and cinematographer George Richmond are clearly having fun taking these songs and weaving them into the narrative. And these songs do work very well into the story being told.
The basic premise follows the simple, albeit cliched music biopic formula. A figure starts from humble beginnings, hits it big, falls, then rises again. This leads to some of the shortcomings one would expect from a tired formula. But what helps Rocketman, at least compared to Bohemian Rhapsody, is its charm. It knows to play up the fantasy elements, while also still offering a compelling story.
A Quality Rocketman
Rocketman also has a slew of fantastic performances, particularly from the lead and antagonist. Taron Egerton is entertaining as Elton John, both as the performer and as the person. He captures the flamboyancy of Elton, as well as his more sensitive side. The way the film also explores his homosexuality leads to a lot of powerful moments and a strong character arc. Egerton has already proven himself as a charismatic leading man in the Kingsman series. And when it comes to this dramatic feature, it’s no different. Egerton also has a strong singing voice to boot.
The film also features scenes of Elton as a young kid and a teenager. Not only do those actors deliver, their scenes feature some of the emotional highlights of the film. By watching Egerton and the other two actors, it only makes one wish Bohemian Rhapsody took more advantage of its lead actor’s talents.
Richard Madden plays opposite as his controlling manager John Reid. He’s clearly loving every second of the role. Whether it be as a love interest or a con man, Madden knows how to play such a slimy character, and elevates the material. Other standout performances include Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton’s heartless mother and Jamie Bell as Elton’s partner Bernie Taupin.
In Conclusion…
Rocketman manages to turn the music biopic on its head. It takes the iconic music of Elton and gives a musical spin to a great artist. Add on a stellar cast, strong themes and character and some dynamite musical numbers, and you have a winning modern musical.