This is a biopic about the British rock band Queen, focusing on lead singer Freddie Mercury’s life and leading up to Queen’s Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985.

There is no lack of material to work with, given Queen’s rise and Mercury’s tragic fall — he died from an AIDS-related illness in 1991 — not to mention the improbability* of a straight*, white rock band fronted by a flamboyant*, gay man of Asian descent. But the film struggles to find a fresh way to tell its story.

It begins with Zanzibari immigrant Farrokh Bulsara forsaking* his traditional family and racist 1970s smalltown for the glamour of rock’n’roll, then skirts dangerously close to “Spinal Tap” territory, with microphone-stand malfunctions and old-school industry execs telling our quartet* what to do.

It feels like the story is being told with the benefit of hindsight*. Rami Malek’s Mercury seems to arrive fully formed and confident that everything will work out, and some of the dialogue is just too on the nose to ring true.

Malek’s performance is laudable. The singing voice is apparently not Malek’s own, but on stage he apes* Mercury’s strutting, virile bravado with dynamic conviction, particularly in the climactic recreation of Queen’s legendary Live Aid performance. It’s a feat of impersonation.

The real problem is how to handle Mercury’s off-stage life. On the one hand, there is the story of Mercury’s relationship with Mary Austin, played by Lucy Boynton. They begin as lovers and even become engaged*, although it is as clear to her as it is to us that Mercury is bisexual, if not gay. The film’s most moving scene is where Mercury admits to this, and to his complex feelings of love for Mary. “I want you in my life,” he tells her. “Why?” she replies.

On the other hand, there’s also Mercury’s bromance* with the other members of Queen to address.

By the early 1980s, crisis looms: the married Queen members no longer share Mercury’s tastes in fashion, partying, sexual partners, or even music.

Verdict: “Bohemian Rhapsody” honors Mercury the showman but never really gets to Mercury the person. (SD-Agencies)