“We love you!”

From Bohemian Rhapsody.

When Freddie “Mercury” Bulsara (Rami Malek) introduces himself to Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and Brian May (Gwilym Lee) in 1970, he is a misfit refugee from Zanzibar with large front teeth and a talent for writing and singing, but he is able to convince Roger and Brian to take him on as the lead singer of their band… the band that would quickly become Queen.  The band recruits a bass player, John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello), and before long, the band is picked up by a record label and rising in popularity.  Freddie begins to fall in love with Mary (Lucy Boynton), one of the only people who can help keep him grounded as their lives go crazier and more public.  The band is given a lawyer, Jim Beach (Tom Hollander), a manager (Aiden Gillen) and an assistant manager, Paul (Allen Leech), who has ulterior motives when it comes to the band’s success.  Queen’s popularity quickly rises all around the world as Freddie and the other members of the band push the limits with their lyrics, content, and musical recording styles.  The band’s success is not without challenges though as Freddie realizes that he’s gay, he slips into a lifestyle surrounded by exuberant parties and substance use, which only distances him from his other family-oriented band mates.  After leaving Queen for a solo career at Paul’s urging, Freddie’s life quickly falls apart and a visit from Mary about the upcoming 1985 Live Aid Concert may be Freddie’s last chance to escape the downward cyclone his life has become.

The music rocks this movie, so that while the story bounces through Queen’s career and major hits, the well-loved music helps string it all together.  The members of Queen are perfectly brought to live by the cast, especially Malek’s Mercury.  Following Queen’s rise with their musical risks and style is enjoyable to watch, but watching Mercury’s struggles and manipulation from those around him is almost heartbreaking.  Overall, Bohemian Rhapsody is an entertaining movie to follow, but there is a sad undercurrent throughout.

| Rated: PG-13 | Running Time: 135 minutes |Genre: biography/music/drama|

||Family Viewing||Cursing: 3* of 10|Nudity: 0 of 10|Sexuality: 2 of 10|Gore: 0 of 10

|AVAILABLE FOR HOME VIEWING|