First reviews are in and critics have given Robbie Williams' musical biopic Better Man excellent ratings. The semi-biographical film chronicles the singer's quick ascent to stardom as a member of Take That and subsequent precipitous decline as he grappled with his inner demons and the difficulties that come with fame.

While the early days of Williams’ boy band Take That, for instance, are low-rent, the first rush of success is delirious. Tweaking the timeline, the band and many extras do a mass song-and-dance to Williams’ later hit “Rock DJ” on a light-show Regent Street brash enough it all but reaches out of the screen to steal your drink.

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Jonno Davies plays Robbie Williams as a chimp in "Better Man" from Paramount Pictures.

It’s not a gimmick to have the former Take That member embodied by a ‘performing monkey’ in his new movie – and this film doesn’t shy away from the star’s trauma, addictions or penchant for self-sabot

Better Man, the new film biopic of Robbie Williams, is out in cinemas today (Thursday, December 26) and has already been receiving rave reviews by critics

Robbie Williams will be portrayed by a CGI monkey in new biopic Better Man and there is a fascinating story behind the decision to have the singer shown as an animal

A new biopic about Robbie Williams' life has got fans of the singer hoping for one thing as he gears up for the release of his biopic