By Robert Yaniz Jr.

THE HYPE

Few bands in music history have made the impact on popular music as Queen. Thanks to its ambitious arrangements and the spirited onstage presence of Freddie Mercury, it’s no wonder that Hollywood has been trying to make a biopic about the band for years. However, with band members Roger Taylor and Brian May involved in the production (after all, what would a Queen biopic be with that catalog of hits?), Bohemian Rhapsody looks to bring a sanitized lens to the band’s history, particularly Mercury’s own life.

THE STORY

And if that implies that the film — directed, at least in name, by Bryan Singer — is a shaggy, narratively scatter-brained take on the story behind one of history’s greatest bans, then strap in. The troubled production history all comes to bear onscreen, whether in the cowardly handling of Mercury’s troubled life or the haphazard way it tracks the group’s ascension, falling-out and eventual reconnection. And, oh, yeah, its script abuses dramatic license to contort the facts to suit its bland storytelling framework.

THE CAST

Thank goodness for Rami Malek, who brings verve and turmoil to his version of Mercury. Although the Mr. Robot actor essentially lip-synchs to the singer’s signature vocal range, he does mostly embody the swagger, brazenness and sensitivity audiences would expect from an “inside look” into what Mercury was like under the persona. Yet, Sing Street‘s Lucy Boynton the only one with any depth to play. For all the talk behind the scenes about telling Queen’s story, the other band members only exist to further Mercury’s journey.

THE PRODUCTION

We’ll never know exactly how the bizarre director change-over affected the film (Dexter Fletcher stepped in mid-shoot after Singer was fired), but unsurprisingly, Bohemian Rhapsody doesn’t boast a singular vision. The Queen music is, of course, spectacular, but it hardly seems fair to give that credit to the filmmakers. True, the sweeping camera moves during the Live Aid sequence lend it a certain scope, but many of the jarring time jumps and the bland effects used to convey Mercury’s drug use feel so TV movie.

THE VERDICT

Bohemian Rhapsody had all the parts necessary to build an iconic musical biopic. The music is unforgettable, and the people involved all led epic lives that feel destined to translate to the big screen. So the fact that Singer and company took the Queen story and dramatized it in such mediocre fashion is beyond a missed opportunity. More than likely, this will be the only big-screen Hollywood film based on Mercury and his bandmates for a very long time, perhaps ever. And Queen and its loyal fanbase deserved better.

Bohemian Rhapsody stars Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander and Mike Myers and is directed by Bryan Singer.