Elton John: Never Too Late – LFF Film Review
While I love Elton John, his latest documentary Elton John: Never Too Late is exactly what you’d expect from a Disney+ doc co-directed by his husband David Furnish. It’s entertaining, safe and celebratory.
The film focuses on Elton’s big years of success in America, from his first ever US show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1970 to his iconic Dodger Stadium concert in 1975. It then cuts to modern times and follows Elton on the US leg of his farewell tour, which culminates in a performance at the Dodger Stadium 47 years later.
The 1970s archival footage is much more interesting than the recent tour coverage. I enjoyed listening to him talk about his relationship with music, how he made his early albums and how his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin worked. There is also a substantial section dedicated to his friendship with John Lennon which was the highlight of the whole film. Conversely, the tour footage is mostly just performances of his greatest hits and the occasional backstage soundbite so naturally, the film becomes less interesting towards the end as it focuses on the live shows more heavily.
The Tiny Dancer legend has been the subject of a few documentaries as well as a biopic before and he’s been very open and honest about his drink and drug addiction and sexuality so there isn’t much left to reveal. Although it’s good to hear his story told in his own words, it doesn’t offer much that we don’t already know. Rocketman only came out five years ago and it covers the main beats of his life in a more entertaining way.
The new hook for this documentary is obviously the tour but this is the less interesting part of the film (although I loved seeing him sing Your Song). It’s very geared towards American audiences as it focuses on his LA shows, totally ignoring the fact that he went on to tour Europe after his final Dodger Stadium concert.
Elton John: Never Too Late is a soft documentary that feels like a light companion piece to his 2022 concert film, Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
Seen at the London Film Festival. On Disney+ from Friday 13th December