If you’re a big fan of Saturday Night Live like me then you’re probably familiar with the comedy group known as The Lonely Island and the digital shorts that they’ve produced. If you’re not a fan but have ever seen or heard “Lazy Sunday”, “Dick in a Box”, or “Like a Boss” then you’re at least familiar with some of their work. The group is comprised of three members – Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone who all met in junior high, stayed friends, and created the group in the year 2000. Around 2005 they had some comedic success which led the trio to being able to audition for Saturday Night Live. Akiva and Jorma were hired on as writers and Andy became a regular member of the cast. Since then they went on to make the film Hot Rod in 2007 and now they have created the mockumentary entitled Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
Andy Samberg plays Conner, a rising star in the pop music scene who used to be in a boy band with his best friends Owen (Jorma Taccone) and Lawrence (Akiva Schaffer). After the break-up, Owen decided to stay with Conner and become his personal DJ while Lawrence went on to become a farmer. When Conner finds out that his solo album is a complete failure, he must try to salvage what is left of his career by doing whatever it takes to grab peoples’ attention again.
This film is hilarious from start to finish. It perfectly encapsulates the tabloid rumors of recent celebrity popstars, takes their antics up to eleven, and then completely demonstrates why those antics are absolutely absurd. It also never talks down to the audience. The film personifies well-known traits that celebrities do time and time again, and then comments on them in subtle yet hilarious ways. Some of those traits are: entourages, “yes-men”, fan encounters, specific illogical requests, and attention seeking stunts.
Andy Samberg is perfect as the somewhat dimwitted yet charming celebrity amalgamation. He steals the film as he becomes completely self-deprecating by pulling off scenes that most actors wouldn’t dare to ever perform on screen. Jorma Taccone plays the smart man and heart of the film and does so with a wealth of compassion and overall love. Anytime he gets put in a place of degradation within the film you completely feel for his character and want the best for him. Tim Meadows plays Conner’s manager and is a very welcoming presence onscreen. He plays the conflicted and overbearing manager role so well and so hilariously that you almost forget that you should kind of hate him. Lastly, there is a celebrity tabloid TV show joke with Will Arnett, Mike Birbiglia, and Chelsea Peretti that is so spot on and perfect that it almost feels like an homage to what they are referencing instead of a blatant criticism.
Although the film is nearly perfect in terms of comedy brilliance, my only minor qualms are the very by-the-books storyline and some shoddy CGI work that could have been cut out. However they are so inconsequential in terms of importance that they can be easily overlooked when considering the entire film as a package. Overall, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is pure comedy gold and isn’t just funny due to jokes but to how accurate it is on parodying the current popstar lifestyle.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping:[usr 5]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AHC7guX-FCk]
About Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping:
Synopsis: A former boy band member and rising solo popstar must try and salvage his reputation as his album tanks.
Directors: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone
Writers: Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone
Stars: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Tim Meadows, Sarah Silverman
Rated: R
Runtime: 1 Hour, 26 Minutes
Just call me “Turbo” because it sums me up in a single word. I’m originally from Visalia, California but currently reside in Mesa, Arizona. I’m a movie and video game fanatic with a BA in Film and Media Production from ASU. I try to see every movie that I can (new and old) as well as play the latest video game releases. My goal in life would be to create a feature length film which viewers absolutely love. However, until then I love to entertain people with my 100+ voice impersonations as well as fill them in with the latest movie/ gaming news on Twitter. Facebook.com/turbizl, Twitter: @turbizl
