The film discards realism in favour of razzmatazz, and slots in Elton John’s biggest hits as and when they suit the story
“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY”, a biopic of Freddie Mercury and Queen, was almost as big a money-spinner as the band itself. A notoriously troubled production, the film nevertheless went on to gross nearly $700m worldwide, making it the sixth-most-lucrative film of 2018. It was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor, an award which was won by its star, Rami Malek.
Despite all the similarities, though, it would be astonishing if “Rocketman” sold anywhere near as many tickets as “Bohemian Rhapsody” did. That is not to suggest that it is a worse film. On the contrary, the main reason why this buoyant production may underperform is that it is bolder and less conventional, a full-blown musical rather than a biopic with songs.
Mr Fletcher is the ideal man for the job. As well as helping out on “Bohemian Rhapsody”, he has directed one previous jukebox musical, “Sunshine on Leith”, and one comic biopic starring Mr Egerton, “Eddie The Eagle”. The film’s screenwriter, Lee Hall, is the perfect choice, too: he is best known for his “Billy Elliot” screenplay, about a young ballet dancer from the north of England, and for the subsequent stage musical he co-wrote with Mr John himself.
Their decision to turn Mr John’s life into what is effectively a stage musical is what makes “Rocketman” such ebullient fun, but also what stops it being as moving or as credible as it might have been. Jamie Bell is restrained and soulful as Bernie Taupin, Mr Elton’s long-time lyricist and close friend, but otherwise the film is as bombastic as Mr John’s songs and as garish as his pantomime costumes.
Still, these objections are probably beside the point. Nobody goes to see a musical about Elton John because they want nuance. They go because they want fireworks, and the film sets off plenty of those. If it had come out two years ago, it is “Rocketman” that would have exploded, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” would have fizzled out.
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