Rocketman is 100% not Bohemian Rhapsody, so let’s just get that out of the way. Now, that’s not to say that Rocketman isn’t as good, it’s just a vastly different experience, which, in this writer’s opinion is a relief. After the ridiculous success of the aforementioned Bohemian Rhapsody, I was nervous Rocketman would be a carbon copy, especially considering Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle, Sunshine on Leith) infamously stepped in to finish direct BR due to Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days of Future Past, X2: X-Men United) getting fired mid-shoot. Fletcher, having worked with Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sing) before on Eddie the Eagle, decided to go in a different direction with his biopic on the life of Elton John.
Rocketman is a more traditional musical, which contains plenty of different Elton-inspired numbers with amazing choreography. While I do think the marketing was a little misleading, because it seemed as if we were in for the same musical biopic that Queen received last year, I quickly caught on and I ultimately didn’t mind the change in tone/style. My hope is, equipped with this knowledge, the next viewer won’t be as shocked and can better enjoy the already wonderful film. The film begins with Taron Egerton’s Elton John entering an AA meeting, and the audience immediately sees how dire things are for him. As he begins to tell his story of rejection, music, betrayal, and addiction we are quickly immersed in the tragic upbringing of John. With a pair of lousy parents, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic Worldfilms, The Help) and Steven Mackintosh (Underworld: Evolution, Memphis Belle), Elton relies on his sweet/supportive grandmother Ivy, played by Gemma Jones (Sense and Sensibility, Bridget Jones’s Diary) to consistently champion his piano skills via insisting he get professional piano lessons.
Once Elton meets Bernie Taupin, played magnificently by Jamie Bell (Jumper, Fantastic Four), the film really takes off, as the duo take on the record industry in England. After plenty of minor failures the two begin to succeed in their goal of getting their music heard. In my opinion, this relationship is probably the strongest dynamic in the film. Egerton and Bell have a certain chemistry which mirrors the incredible friendship of the two in real life. Their ability to work together on screen includes joint ventures into the excess of success, with only Bernie able to stay above the water, as John is taken on a journey of addiction and self-destructive behavior. Needless to say, the film is rougher around the edges considering its’ R rating and is not afraid to show the dark side of success and fame.
As a man who struggles with addiction himself, namely alcohol, this film really spoke to me in a number of different ways. I was instantly able to relate with parts of Elton John’s life story as told on the big screen. The screenplay, written by Lee Hall (Billie Elliot, War Horse), does a fantastic job of intercutting musical numbers with plot in interesting and unique ways. The film covers a lot of Elton’s bigger hits like “Your Song,” “Crocodile Rock,” the title song “Rocketman,” and an awesome cover of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard.” This is yet another example of a major Hollywood film advertising the return of pinball, which I completely endorse. While some of the sparks of creation in the film don’t completely match what happened in real life, the songs’ deeper meanings really help to enhance the plot of John’s struggle with acceptance and addiction.
Actor turned director Dexter Fletcher proves that he is a director worth watching, as Rocketman is an incredibly fun film that is guaranteed to have you singing along with the songs in your head (or out loud, which my girlfriend probably didn’t appreciate or enjoy). This is compounded with Taron Egerton’s incredible performance as Elton John. Honestly, it’s hard not to compare his performance with Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, which he won an Oscar for. Egerton’s Oscar-worthy performance completely embodies the appearance and mannerisms of Elton John. However, his performance couldn’t have been as good as it was if not for the costume and makeup/prosthetics teams. Julian Day (Rush, Robin Hood 2018), who was also the costume designer for Bohemian Rhapsody, recreates some of Elton’s most iconic outfits, as the singer is partly known for his choice of extremely flamboyant/fabulous outfits. I’d be surprised if his name isn’t in the running for an Oscar in nine months as well.
The supporting actors do a terrific job as well, with newcomer Matthew Illesley portraying the youngest version of Elton John, back when his name was Reggie. He gets a chance to perform a few musical numbers and he does a fantastic job of encapsulating the younger version of Elton. Howard crushes it as the world’s worst mom… seriously, this woman is truly horrid. Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Bodyguard) portrays Elton’s manager John Reid, who ironically was played by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Dark Knight Rises) in Bohemian Rhapsody. Madden’s performance is hauntingly sociopathic, as he successfully lures Elton into the familiar traps of fame and fortune. Last, but not least, Tate Donovan (Hercules, Swordfish) puts in a super groovy performance as Doug Weston, the owner of the Troubadour in L.A., where Elton becomes popular in the United States.
All in all, Rocketman is a fun and somewhat historically-accurate retelling of the music industry’s all-time best singer/songwriter duo. While its’ strengths clearly lie in the all-star casting, its’ marketing could have been better, in my opinion, if only to avoid the initial style/genre confusion I experienced. Having topped the charts for several decades, the film, produced by Elton himself, comes out during his Farewell Tour, as he intends to spend more time with his husband and kids. If you’re a fan of Elton John and/or musicals, I highly recommend this film, as it captures the spirit of the man, the myth, the legend: Elton John.
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, some drug use and sexual content.
Running Time: 121 Minutes
Released by Marv Films and Paramount Pictures