For a pleasant change, this music documentary film focuses on the lifespan of the huge 80s pop duo WHAM! rather than the cursory glance usually given in the many solo-years George Michael endeavours. Told in chronological order and using a wonderfully dazzling patchwork of a huge range of archive material, the film is loosely structured around an appropriate scrapbook format, that provides not only interesting material about the band (including early club promo gig footage and the first demo of Careless Whisper) but also creates effective context of the early 80s period. The film not only conveys the extraordinarily rapid success and evolution of the band and its music very effectively, but it also puts across the deep friendship that existed between the pair. The coverage of each step of the band's journey is methodical, and the consistent, open and equal use of audio voice-over commentary by Ridgeley and Michael makes it feel more personal than a lot of music documentaries. In keeping with the unashamedly light upbeat pop product that is its subject, the darker side is touched upon reasonably (Ridgeley's stepping back to allow Michael's songwriting strength and solo career to develop, Michael's closeted sexuality) but in no great depth or much sense of the true pain and conflict that must have existed. Ending on the triumphant Wembley farewell gig, the brief but stellar pop phenomenon that was WHAM! ends on a bittersweet but vaguely positive note from a gracious Ridgeley and ever-complex Michael looking to the future that was to come, and this film is an effortless watch that is well constructed and tells the story very well.
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