This episode of Musical Hell is brought to you by Midnight Musicals. Welcome to the podcast musical underground. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Diva from Musical Hell, and I know the score.

["O Fortuna" by Cast in Bronze]

Having finally gotten around to watching Rocketman, the 2019 Elton John bio-musical,

I have come to two conclusions:

The first is that this is a rather good movie and I enjoyed it.

The second is that's very odd because on the surface, this doesn't look like a movie I'd enjoy.

It's a jukebox musical where the connection between the songs and the storyline

ranges from dramatically appropriate to tenuous at best.

The plot follows the same beats you've likely seen in dozens of other biopics,

or even the parody Walk Hard, down to the questionable age makeup.

And yet, it works! It really does!

So, let's take a moment to look at Rocketman to see how it takes the basics of the formula

and transforms them into something out of the ordinary.

Rocketman has something which we might call the Moulin Rouge effect.

Just as Moulin Rouge managed to make a cliché melodromatic story work

through the courage of its convictions and a definite sense of style,

so Rocketman leans into the formula it's presenting and embraces it.

Rather than attempting to subvert the traditional biopic tropes, it plays them up.

The moment where young Elton is first given the lyrics of Bernie Taupin is treated with portentious reverence.

[MUSIC]

At the same time, Dexter Fletcher also knows when to dial it back and play things straight.

The scene depicting the creation of "Your Song" is simply yet effectively staged,

with the tune emerging gradually to the increasing wonder of the listeners.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do

You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue.

DIVA: In general, whether they're clear reflections of the character's mental state,

or glorified background music,

the songs are filmed and choreographed very well.

Elton John's adolescence is covered to the tune of "Saturday Night's Alright"

and filmed in impressive long takes.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: Saturday night's alright, alright, alright, ooo

DIVA: And the title song is a captivating sequence

transitioning from a suicide-attempt-induced underwater hallucination

to a triumphant concert at Dodgers Stadium,

highlighting the disparity between John's unstable personal life

and his grandiose stage persona.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: And I think it's gonna be a long, long time

'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find

DIVA: Indeed, many of the songs are montages and highlight what John's producer

and toxic lover, John Reed, describes as the defining moments in a musician's life.

They also give the traditional story beats a bit of extra flair.

A montage highlighting the decadence that comes with stardom is pretty rote,

but when you turn it into a shopping spree slash production number

set to "Honky Cat," then you've got something.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: They said, get back, honky cat

Better get back to the woods

DIVA: Also, turns out Robb Stark can sing. Who knew?

In fact, the cast is solid across the board.

Taron Egerton is fantastic as Elton John,

both increasingly unbalanced and increasingly vulnerable.

Jamie Bell plays Bernie Taupin, and the two have great chemistry together.

In a movie that's in part about Elton's search for love and acceptance,

the John/Taupin bromance is the most compelling relationship in the movie.

No wonder so many of their interactions are filmed like love scenes.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: Back to the howling old owl in the woods

Hunting the horny black toad

DIVA: So, you have a good cast,

a sense of style borne out in interesting musical sequences,

and most importantly, a willingness to commit to its vision.

Put it all together and you have something that is more than the sum of its parts.

I'm Diva, I know the score, and now, so do you.

ELTON JOHN [singing]: Rocketman, Rocketman, Burning out his fuse up here alone

["O Fortuna" by Cast in Bronze]