Son Of Bohemian Rhapsody

The old monster movie franchises, if they got some traction, would put out subsequent films by introducing the son of the original beast.   Hey, when you have a good thing going, Hollywood doesn't mess with success.

So, you are aware of the rousing reaction to "Bohemian Rhapsody" last year, even meriting a Best Actor Oscar.   That movie got some box office juice from the life of Queen's Freddie Mercury.  It was only logical then that Tinseltown would look at other rock icons of the 60s, 70s, and 80s to grab your money.   

The first one out of the box is "Rocketman," the saga of Elton John and directed by Dexter Fletcher.  Like "Bohemian Rhapsody," this clicks all the boxes.  A strong songbook.   A dead-on portrayal by a young actor.   Details of success and then challenges as only life and fame can bring them.  Well, in the case of Freddie Mercury, he's gone to live in the clouds with the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Whitney Houston.  Luckily, Elton is still with us and his conquest of demons is the framework of the movie.

When we first meet him, he is decked out in some winged costume that Liberace wouldn't be caught dead in.  Elton barges into a alcoholic and drug self-help therapy session.  A perfect way for him to tell his tale.   We start with his piano playing as a child.  We meet his estranged dad and his nasty-as-all-Hell mother played by an almost unrecognizable Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron's daughter).  She might have been the genesis for "The Bitch Is Back."  He meets lyricist Bernie Taupin and success is inevitable.  With it comes a rotten boyfriend, the inability to handle fame, and lots and lots and lots of drugs and booze.

Without knowing much of Elton's biography, I pretty much knew where this was all going.  That said, the predictable ride did have some rewards.   First off, Taron Egerton as Elton excels primarily because he doesn't attempt to copy the musical stylings of the superstar.  Instead, he sings on his own and lets the audience channel back to the real thing.   So, this becomes an acting foray and not an impersonation.  Wise choice.

Even smarter was the use of the extensive Elton John songbook but not in the concert settings you would expect.  Nope, the tunes are used to advance the story and several of the production numbers look like they came from a MGM musical in the 50s.  There is a "La La Land" feel about "Rocketman" and that's not a bad thing.

For all those reasons, "Rocketman" works even though you are seeing what I would call a standard biopic of a musician overcoming obstacles.  Naturally, this is going to give birth to a flood of similar movies.  Expect to see the cinematic life stories of Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and probably even that Japanese singer who sang the hit song "Sukiyaki."   Heck, he was killed in a plane crash while his one hit was soaring up the Top 40 charts.   That's the kind of film that will expand the rock bio genre even further.   

Hopefully, the three dozen or more movies to follow will be as well done as "Rocketman."

LEN'S RATING:  Three-and-a-half stars.

Dinner last night:  Prosciutto and burrata at Casa Nostra.