Movie Review: Rocket Man

Rocket Man is a loose biography about Elton John's early life and rise to stardom. The movie begins (and kind of ends) with Elton at an AA meeting. Instantly, the story picks up with his interest in the piano as a young boy.  Song by song, the audience watches him grow up and become a big star.  Like many rock stars, he has a strained relationship with his parents that gives him numerous insecurities despite his enormous talent.  Early in his career he meets a parasite who he falls in love with and gets hurt.  The fame and fortune lure him into sex, drugs, alcohol, and even bulimia.

Taron Egarton is amazing as Elton John, and I hope he gets recognized next year at the academy.  Some of the many things I loved about this movie are interesting musical numbers, vulnerability of the main character, and the happy ending. Spoiler Alert: Elton John is presently sober and has been sober for twenty-eight years!  His life went from a hazy rerun of self-indulgence to a meaningful family and even more fascinating career. The movie didn't go into his later years, for example the Lion King or Sir Elton John.  This is a rock-a-mentary that shows how circles of dysfunction can be broken. The movie also focuses on Elton's longest friendship, co-writer Bernie Taupin. I recommend this movie to all music lovers, but caution parents in taking younger children.  There are some semi-racy gay sex scenes and drug use.  BTW-My fave Elton John songs are probably The Border Song, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, and Yellow Brick Road.  What are yours?  5/5 Stars