Of Course Robbie Williams And The Better Man Actor Who Played The CGI Ape Had A Lot Of Thoughts About Acting Out That Handjob Scene

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Approaching the musical biopic “Better Man”, I must confess that my knowledge about its protagonist, Robbie Williams, was essentially non-existent. It’s a fact I should be ashamed of, considering how astounding his career turned out to be upon closer inspection. He became a member of the highly successful boy band Take That in 1990, left and rejoined the group several times to pursue a solo path, topped the British charts with numerous albums, and set a Guinness World Record by selling 1.6 million tickets in just one day, back in 2006. Remarkable, isn’t it? The film “Better Man” delves into these aspects of his life, though some mainstream viewers might have been deterred due to the lead role being played by a chimpanzee instead of Williams himself.

In my opinion, musical biopics ought to find ways to distinguish themselves from each other. Among these, the unconventional movie “Rocketman” about Elton John stands out for me compared to the more conventional “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The latter seemed formulaic, while the former took risks and ventured beyond established boundaries. The film “Better Man,” however, truly pushes the limits of the biopic genre. Its protagonist is a chimpanzee, played by actor Johnno Davies, who engages in behaviors similar to those of Robbie Williams during his career, such as drinking, doing drugs, and having numerous sexual encounters. Therefore, when I had the opportunity to interview both Robbie Williams and Michael Gracey, director of “The Greatest Showman,” I asked them about the difficulties they faced with the chimpanzee sex scenes, particularly one involving a chimp receiving a handjob in a nightclub.

Robbie Williams, needless to say, was delighted. He told TopMob:

I had a joke ready based on what I assumed you meant. However, it seems like you anticipated that and beat me to the punch! Kudos to you! Thanks for the laugh, appreciate it!

It might be more beneficial for you to approach Better Man without taking it too seriously, as Robbie Williams often finds humor in various situations. However, this sense of humor occasionally lands him in trouble with the authorities, such as when he gave the middle finger to TV cameras during the live opening ceremonies of the World Cup in 2018. So, if you’re not prepared for unconventional behavior, it might be best to reconsider hiring Williams.

In their discussion regarding the proper setup to capture an authentic chimpanzee expression of pleasure for Better Man, Williams and Gracey filled TopMob in on the necessary details.

GRACEY: Excellent question, and it’s the first time I’ve been asked this. We worked extensively with Johnno, who fortunately didn’t mind visiting those locations.

WILLIAMS: By the way, there’s an unfortunate video of me passing out in one of those places. Just wanted to clarify that I was only joking about having done it here. But hypothetically speaking, if it had happened, I would have passed out for you right in this room. That’s my style.

Instead of directly questioning Williams, whose words are unreliable, I posed the same query to Johnno Davies, the star of Better Man, and he playfully responded to TopMob.

Let me put it this way: There have been countless variations of that item, I must say (laughs). In the comfort of my home, while my wife listened from the next room and my child asked curiously, “What on earth are you up to now, dad?”, we explored a multitude of possibilities.

I must admit, I didn’t anticipate encountering a chimpanzee-like climax scene in “Better Man.” However, that’s just the beginning of its unique offerings, which include catchy musical performances, emotional musician backstories, and plenty of side-splitting comedy. Despite a sluggish start at the box office, I’m optimistic that positive reviews will spark curiosity, and audiences will eventually watch this film among their 2025 theater picks.

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2025-01-13 19:07