Wham! review: An intimate, insightful tribute
Review Overview
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8David Farnor | On 30, Jun 2024
Director: Chris Smith
Cast: George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley
Certificate: 12
Four years. That’s how many years Wham! were together. That this is surprising is testament to just how impactful the pop duo were – and how iconic George Michael went on to become. Netflix’s 90-minute documentary is a winning, insightful and moving tribute to them both, tinged with a poignant sheen following Michael’s death in 2016.
The film is deftly assembled from archive footage – both public and private. That means that the late Michael gets a chance to tell his story in his own words, alongside Andrew Ridgeley. They’re both game narrators of their own careers, in interviews and in personal footage. Fusing their comments into voiceovers that accompany the photos and videos of their rapid rocketing to global stardom, director Chris Smith assembles a film that manages to have some scope but never loses its feeling of intimacy.
That’s reinforced by some honest admissions and insights, from their commercially minded decision to tour China in 1985 – a first for a Western pop act – which capitalised on the world’s fascination with the country at the time, to Michael’s open confession of being a terrible diva once in the spotlight.
MIchael is perhaps inevitably the greater focus of the film, and Ridgeley to his credit is sincerely happy for this to be the case. There’s a tragic note to the film’s candid dissection of how MIchael disappeared in his famous persona as he was still dealing with insecurity and the pressures of not yet coming out. But the movie’s decision to focus on the Wham! years over Michael’s later solo career keeps the balance in check, with some welcome time devoted to exploring the duo’s childhood friendship in Hertfordshire.
With never-before-seen footage to keep fans intrigued, the result is a warm, accessible and highly entertaining watch – and leaves you wanting a follow-up just focused on Michael.