Better Than Bohemian Rhapsody

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2019)

Rocketman has something very specific in common with (believe it or not) Deadpool. Both hang their hats on the idea that they are uniquely subversive stand-outs in their particular genres: Rocketman being a psychedelic, non-linear musical biopic, and Deadpool being a fourth-wall breaking, tongue-in-cheek superhero flick. While the skin and dressing of these films is certainly noteworthy, the soul of them is never far from their genre trappings. If you've seen Walk Hard, it's hard to miss the genre clichés Rocketman is playing in. Nonetheless, the highly-stylized musical numbers, along with the sheer amount of unexpected weirdness, make Rocketman fly above its banal shortcomings.
The comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody are inevitable: the true story of a closeted British rock star from the 70s dealing with his success through sex and drugs, peppered with classic pop songs. Both are "greatest hits" biopics, less concerned with over-arching storytelling than with hitting the high notes and corny clichés.
However, what Rocketman gets right are its oddities. Like Elton himself, the movie is a cinematic display of flamboyant excess, with a dark sadness flowing just beneath the surface. Egerton continues his star ascension here, and he's strong with the little story he is given (most successfully centered on his relationship with writing partner Bernie Taupin). Instead of a linear "here's-how-this-song-came-about" storyline, it's a jukebox musical, with entire scenes bursting into unexpected song-and-dance numbers.
Could easily see this being on Broadway someday, and maybe that's where it really belongs, or as viewed as a string of high-production music videos. Nonetheless, in its current theatrical form, it's a toe-tapping good time that does justice to some truly incredible music, and leaves you wanting more Elton.