For long-time Elton John fans, a new documentary promising unseen footage and insights is naturally enticing. This film delivers on that front, offering glimpses and clips that haven’t surfaced elsewhere. However, the presentation and editing choices ultimately hinder its impact. While the soundtrack features strong musical selections, the narrative structure struggles to coalesce into a satisfying whole.
The documentary draws upon interviews, seemingly from those conducted for his autobiography, aiming to weave together Elton John’s life story. Yet, it feels incomplete. Instead of a comprehensive overview, the film jumps between his early career and his final tour, missing crucial decades in between. Focusing more intently on the farewell tour, while reflecting on past eras, would have served the movie better than this fragmented approach. Beyond the final tour and limited backstage moments, the documentary barely progresses past 1975.
This narrative gap is significant. It essentially erases the 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s – four decades of Elton John’s career – dismissing substantial achievements and periods of his life. The film draws a contrast between a young Elton expressing a desire for fatherhood and his final tour, where he is indeed a father. This “Never Too Late” theme, seemingly about becoming a dad, feels simplistic, more akin to a standard television special than a deep-dive documentary. While contrasting eras is valid, this approach feels limiting and less impactful than intended.
Even the new song created for the film feels somewhat detached. While thematically relevant to the documentary’s implied message, it doesn’t quite integrate seamlessly, feeling more like an addition for the end credits rather than an organic part of the film itself.
Certain segments also overstay their welcome. The inclusion of a lengthy portion of Elton John’s 2022 Dodgers Stadium performance, already available on Disney+, feels redundant, especially as this documentary is also Disney-based. Similarly, the “Rocket Hour” segment dedicates excessive time to online interactions that lack genuine substance. Both these sections could have benefited from tighter editing to enhance their intended meaning and prevent pacing issues.
In conclusion, this Elton John documentary isn’t inherently flawed, but it is undeniably lacking. While it offers glimpses of new content and some strong musical moments, the disjointed narrative, missed decades, and questionable editing choices prevent it from being a truly compelling or comprehensive portrayal of Elton John’s remarkable life and career. For devoted fans, there might be enough new material to warrant a watch, but for a deeper understanding of Elton John’s journey, viewers may be left wanting more.
