'Better Man is a fun movie, but I must discuss the elephant (aka monkey) in the room.'

Robbie Williams is doing all he can to be a Better Man right now.

The iconic singer is seemingly everywhere promoting his new film… just not in the US, as Americans, quite famously, don't have a clue who he is.

The biographical musical is directed by The Greatest Showman's Michael Gracey, and tells the story of the British pop star.

The narrative follows Williams from his working-class childhood through his rise with the boy band Take That, his breakout solo success, gruelling world tour schedules and experiences with addiction.

The film weaves Williams' hit songs into his life story, exploring his complex relationship with his father Peter and lifelong battles with self-doubt and mental health.

Watch the trailer below. Post continues after video.

Filmed mostly in Melbourne, the cast features Australian actors Kate Mulvany and Damon Herriman, alongside British talent, Steve Pemberton and Alison Steadman.

But most importantly: Williams is not portrayed by some rising star. He is a chimpanzee, naturally!

Weirdly… it works for the most part. Like, I was aware that the character had the face of a chimpanzee, but he was also cheeky, charming and charismatic — like Williams.

And I never expected a biopic featuring a CGI monkey as its leading man would be so emotionally resonant.

Did I cry? Many times!

Robbie Williams has lived a life, as one of the most recognisable celebrities of the 21st century (at least, in Europe and Down Under), but at the same time, he was one of the most scrutinised public figures by the tabloids.

This is covered in the film, as his high-profile relationship with All Saints singer Nicole Appleton is laid bare in unflattering detail, his pathetic public feud with Liam Gallagher, and his ongoing resentment of the fame he once craved.

If you're a fan of Williams, these will be stories you're keen to get his personal take on, and for those newer to the phenomenon that is the 'Angels' singer, they're fun little tidbits of '00s gossip to keep you invested.

Fans will adore the musical performances of some of his hits. 'Rock DJ' was a feast for the eyes and ears, performed by Robbie and actors portraying Take That, which doesn't make all that much sense (neither does a singing a monkey) but it doesn't matter.

Robbie Williams voices a CGI monkey. Image: Roadshow Films.

The boy band dances through the streets of London, stomping on cars as a flash mob forms behind them, and it's every bit as spectacular as any musical number in The Greatest Showman.

I will admit, I was a little surprised by some of the songs that didn't make the cut in this film.

'Bodies', 'Millennium' and 'Supreme' went without mention, and as an Australian (a fandom on the other side of the planet that has made him millions), a little nod to the Kylie Minogue duet 'Kids' would have been welcomed.

It's curious that he omitted some of these hits but performed two full songs that were not his own tunes.

I understand that Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' made sense with the narrative as a song that was meaningful to his father, but I could have done without hearing the entirety of 'Land of 1000 Dances' by Wilson Pickett — aanother Robbie classic would have been much better in its place.

But overall, there are plenty of hits for fans to enjoy, like the emotionally-charged 'Come Undone', sweeping romance of 'She's the One' and truly heartwrenching 'Feel', performed by Robbie as a young boy whose deadbeat dad just abandoned him.

And of course, 'Angels' was truly gorgeous, as it was sung after Robbie's beloved grandmother passed away and her casket was lowered into the ground.

Sure, this movie doesn't do subtly, but it does nail sentimentality. It's a big movie with big feelings.

Is it a little self-indulgent? Sure. There's a clear 'poor me' narrative that runs throughout that can get a tad tiresome coming from a rich white man.

At the same time, Williams is aware that he's an imperfect person, so he's not afraid to show himself at his worst, shedding any sympathy as quickly as he earns it.

The thing that probably prevents Better Man from being a forgettable biopic was the one thing I couldn't get past: the CGI monkey.

For the film, the actor Jonno Davies performed the motion capture for the monkey's movements, while Williams provided his own voice for the character.

The decision to portray Williams as a monkey was because the singer repeatedly referred to himself throughout his early career as a "performing monkey".

This would be well and good if it weren't for all the things this monkey would need to do in the movie. Things a monkey should never do.

I'm not even talking about the constant drug abuse. After seeing Chimp Robbie snort his 15th line of cocaine, this didn't raise an eyebrow for me.

It was the sexual scenes that were too uncomfortable to stomach. I don't want to see an unclothed ape lying in bed with three naked models, or the contorted mug of a chimp kissing the lips of an All Saints member.

It's just weird, okay!!

Perhaps, the problem is me: the most recent monkey media I consumed was Chimp Crazy, which featured several accounts of people being (quite literally) torn apart by chimpanzees, so it's hard for me to see them as anything more than a wild animal, and definitely not sexy.

But really, who would find this sexy??

Robbie Williams is, quite literally, a performing monkey in Better Man. Image: Roadshow Films.

I'm not opposed to sexy animals, after all, I have seen Kovu in The Lion King: Simba's Pride, and I am only human, but this monkey was just not hot enough!

Between the fanged teeth that could bite someone's ear off (it happens!) and the wide-set eyes and thick body hair (if that's your thing, do you!), I just can't be attracted to this monkey man.

This wouldn't be a huge problem in other biopics. After all, not everyone has to be sexy.

But sadly, Robbie Williams does.

Robbie's brand was built on his sex appeal; the type of indescribable allure to inspire thousands upon thousands of women to scream his name in stadiums around Europe and Australia.

This was a man known for seducing women in interviews, often ending up making out with the women who did press with him.

Between his cheeky grin, bedroom eyes, and edgy tattoos, this man was sex in the early '00s.

Yes, he had an impressive singing voice, playful stage presence and songwriting skills, but I'd hazard a guess that most of his fans were first enticed by his physical presence.

Williams being a sexless monkey in his biopic speaks more to the singer's view of himself than his legions of fans. This is acknowledged in the film's trailer, as Robbie muses "This is my story but I'm not going to tell it in an ordinary way because I don't see myself how others see me."

I'd go as far as to say that it also speaks to a level of ego, too. The casting of a monkey has sidestepped a young, attractive actor who would have (literally) stepped into his shoes and played his younger self, as if it would solidify his dwindling relevance at the age of 50.

But monkey business aside, this was a fun ride!

It's not exactly breaking the mould for biopics (aside from the aforementioned CGI chimp), with its formulaic narrative structure ending in Robbie's 'apology tour' of sorts, but it worked seamlessly in Better Man, reflecting a lot of addicts' stories.

If you're a fan of Robbie Williams, there's a lot to love about this film, and even if you're not, it's still an entertaining ride with a ton of catchy tunes and emotional impact that will have you sobbing between scenes.

And yes, there's a singing monkey.

Feature image: Roadshow Films.