Netflix recently released a documentary about ’80s pop sensation Wham! following the early lives and eventual stardom of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Sure they made great music, but was a documentary about the pair worth checking out? I hopped onto Netflix to see for myself.
The documentary focuses on stardom and two best friends taking on the music industry. For one, it gets the atmosphere right as it transports viewers back in time, showing what the dynamic duo were like as boys in the ’70s and then as young adults celebrating their youth and love of life. Everything about the movie was full of color and vitality, bringing a feeling of wonder and nostalgia to every frame. Under the direction of Chris Smith, Ridgeley narrates the film in addition to pieces of archived interviews of Michael telling stories and reminiscing about the days they were making music history.
As someone who cannot sit still long enough to watch most movies let alone a documentary, I can definitely say Wham! was engaging and left me wanting more. Without going into too much detail so as to not spoil it for anyone planning to watch it, I will say that this was incredibly enlightening. It’s a film anyone who enjoys music from that era would certainly enjoy. While it does not go into a great deal of detail describing the challenges that sometimes put the pair in the spotlight, there was no outside bias or prejudice against them. Ridgeley is truly a man going through his memories and reflecting on his youth. One thing that stood out to me that I did not know previously was that the two separated on good terms. More often than not, bands breakup due to infighting and in this case the boys who started making music had grown into men and happily went their separate ways. While leaving was hard they did so on good terms, remaining friends after the split.
Even if you are not typically a Wham! fan, this documentary is fun to watch as it offers a new perspective most have not seen before. They even go into the details of their traveling as a group and offer a behind the scenes look into certain songs. I highly recommend watching it if you have a spare hour and are looking to learn something new.
Rylee Schaeffer
Associate Editor/Staff Writer