The film Bohemian Rhapsody should have been

Rating: 8/10 (4 September 2019)

An alcoholic. A cocaine addict. A sex addict. A bulimic. And a shopaholic. Rocketman charters both the highs and lows of the life of rock-n-roll legend Elton John. It is unafraid to delve into the dark moments of the rock star's life but still capable of bursting into song in classic musical fashion.
Taron Egerton stars as a young Reginald Dwight, a misunderstood and relatively unloved piano prodigy who changes his name to Elton John and embarks on a life of rock-n-roll, writing songs with his friend Bernie (Jamie Bell) and achieving fame and glory in his travels across America. Although he isn't the perfect Elton look-a-like, Egerton flawlessly captures both the spirit and personality of the rock star in a wildly emotional performance, even gaining the appraisal of Elton himself. The same can be said for Egerton's singing, which is impressively similar to Elton's real voice.
The most impressive aspect of this film however is director Dexter Fletcher, who brings an undeniable energy to an otherwise by-the-book biopic. There are spectacular shifts into all-singing, all-dancing musical numbers, inventively intertwined with elements of fantasy. The influences of Gene Kelly and Ken Russell shine through, an unlikely synthesis at the heart of the film's character which brings about a striking inventiveness and ingenuity. Rocketman explodes with colour, originality and a refreshing honesty about Elton John's rollercoaster of a life.
Unsurprisingly, there have been many comparisons drawn between Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody, with Fletcher salvaging the Freddie Mercury biopic after the sacking of Brian Singer. Both feature Oscar-worthy performances of rock stars who are struggling with their identity, with legendary musicians providing the jukebox to their films. Rocketman however, is the bold, unflinching and honest film that Bohemian Rhapsody could have been.