Review: Rocketman

Release date: May 31, 2019
Running time: 121 minutes
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard

Rocketman is the biographical drama of Sir Elton John, chronicling the performer's childhood, rise to fame, and some of the challenges that resulted from both.  

The story is told in an unexpected way:  instead of a standard historical drama, many of the scenes have musical and fantastical experiences.  Some of this might be due to childhood whimsy, some might be due to drugs, and some might just be a way to capture John's unique perspective.  It is jarring at first, but fits the character and the various stages of his life.

The movie about the life of Elton John needs a strong actor to take on that role, and thankfully Taron Egerton fully embraces the role.  Egerton transforms as Elton, taking on his mannerisms, style, and personality.  He is fantastic.  Egerton is joined by some equally engaging talent, but as I imagine all people do around Elton, they cannot match the brilliance of the main character.  And a film about Elton John wouldn't be complete without some fantastic music, and thankfully the film sticks to Elton John's repertoire. The music and costumes, what John is most well known for are perfectly recreated in the film.  However, this is a movie that can be enjoyed at home.

However, the film really tries to take on the dramatic nature of Elton John's life.  And the main problem with this is that, at least in the film, the problems he deals with and the trials that he has to overcome don't have the weight that they should have.  There is a scene part way through that is supposed to be a callous statement about his life, but the way the movie portrays him it is spot on.  Maybe there was just too much to cover for a two hour movie, but it does seem like the film spends an inordinate amount of time on his childhood and not enough time on his rise and later life.  

Rocketman is a spectacle with fantastic music and a phenomenal performance by Taron Egerton.

Watch it.