Rocketman

Disclaimer: I'm an Elton John fan. Actually flew to NYC to catch his Farewell Yellowbrick Road Farewell World Tour at MSG. He was amazing!

This was a fun film. As a jukebox musical, Rocketman was top-rate. Elton John's songs are iconic and catchy and really helped to hold the story together. It will really translate well to a stage musical. However, as a biopic - and dramatically speaking - it was weak. The emotional beats were absent and the actual narrative too thin.

Dexter Fletcher directed an energetic, if otherwise formulaic, musical film that was clearly an "authorised" depiction of John's public persona. In truth, there was nothing deep nor personal about John that was gleaned from the film.

Nonetheless, the execution was good. The costumes and music were brilliant, and the actors were great. Taron Egerton gave his best performance so far and did bear a close resemblance to John himself; Jamie Bell and Richard Madden were also perfectly cast. It was almost impossible not to tear up when Your Song comes on. But unfortunately, such emotional resonance was rare in this film.

Egerton always had that cheeky, charming quality that effortless exudes out of him, but in this film, he managed to imbue in his portrayal a sense of emotional vulnerability. It is a pity that the script did not support him to further explore John's emotional landscape vis a vis his relationships with his mother and father, his professional partner Bernie Taupin and his one-time lover John Reid. Such a wealth of drama that was not mined.

In particular, John and Taupin's friendship was a major missed opportunity, given Egerton and Bell's great chemistry together. That first act when they first met was possibly the strongest act of the film.

Madden looked great and similarly, he and Edgerton had a palpable chemistry. It was only a pity that his route to villainy was so boring and linear.

Bryce Dallas Howard was unrecognisable as Sheila, and she was actually rather good in her limited role.

Kudos to Julian Day for the fabulous Costume Design. If anything, this might get an Oscar nomination.

And also maybe a Best Song nomination for John for the end credits song (I'm Gonna) Love Again.

This had been an utterly enjoyable 2 hours. The songs used were definitely all recognisable and catchy so even the casual pop-music fan would be drawn into that and appreciate the film for that. However, it would have been more fun if they had gone to Across the Universe or Mamma Mia route and used Elton's songbook and set it against an original narrative. That would have been awesome and provided more dramatic and emotional possibilities.