Stars: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer
Storyline
When his new album fails to sell records, pop/rap superstar conner4real goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life begin to collapse. He'll try anything to bounce back, anything except reuniting with his old rap group The Style Boyz.
Writers: Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Joan Cusack, Imogen Poots, Chris Redd, Edgar Blackmon, James Buckley, Evan Fine, Max Jenkins, Elliott Smith, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Andy Samberg -
Conner
Jorma Taccone -
Owen
Akiva Schaffer -
Lawrence
Sarah Silverman -
Paula
Tim Meadows -
Harry
Maya Rudolph -
Deborah
Joan Cusack -
Tilly
Imogen Poots -
Ashley
Chris Redd -
Hunter
Edgar Blackmon -
Eddie
James Buckley -
Sponge
Evan Fine -
10-Year Old Conner
Max Jenkins -
10-Year Old Owen
Elliott Smith -
10-Year Old Lawrence
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson -
Himself
Trivia: Andy Samberg and Judd Apatow's first collaboration. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 8/10
You see them on E network. You read about them in the popular tabloids.
The life of a star is on display for everyone in this world and we eat
it up like pies in a fair contest. Heavy are the heads of those who
wear the crowns of stardom and many will do anything to keep the light
on them. This weekend, Samberg and his crew release a movie that
attempts to poke fun at the silliness that is music artist drama. My
review is on Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Let's get started
The GOOD: • Clever presentation. • Lots of jabs at Hollywood trends •
Lonely Island Songs Filling The Air
The first thing I loved about Popstar was it's clever presentation in
the form of a documentary, or in this case a mockumentary. Popstar is a
tale about Conner, a former pop sensation who is trying to go solo in
an attempt to keep his fame high. To help promote the album, the
arrogant, naïve boob hires a crew to capture his life on tape to
portray to the masses (the audience). In this format, we didn't just
get to see Conner's screw-ups, but observe the thoughts of those
involved in his entourage. Various celebrity cameos riddle the
interview scenes, making hilarious comments that show the fickleness of
the Hollywood scene. This dual approach kept things interesting, and
provide a variety of comedy styles that shows some people still have
originality.
Popstar's plot also allows for opportunities to jab at Hollywood stars,
who enjoy a few too many benefits due to their status. I can't tell you
how many times I smiled when they threw a celebrity under the bus, or
parodied an incident that some dopey star has done in the past. You
know that what is being done is stupid, and Samberg's overacted antics
only make it more ridiculous. But it's satisfying to hear someone bash
a celebrity for acting so juvenile. While I can't say they hit
everyone, Samberg and company cast a wide net to cover a lot of musical
entertainment follies while also extending into the obsessions of the
general public. Yes…you the audience also get to be jibed as they
emphasize just how absurd fans can be about everything and hurtful they
can be thanks to the Internet. And what better to way to poke fun then
a Lonely Island musical number in all its…interesting qualities. The
vulgarity and aggressive nature of their songs remains just as colorful
as their albums.
THE BAD:
• Offensiveness • Banter gets old • Overacted at parts
Despite how much fun the movie is though, someone is sure to take
offense to some of this movie's more assertive jokes. The opening
number about Not Being Gay is sure to rile up some community's twitter
account that will black ball Samberg. I agree that there are some
moments that cross the line, but audience members need to put their big
people pants on and realize most of this is a joke, or don't see the
film. Still Samberg and his crew need to watch where they travel to in
terms of their comedy, especially when it further stains the image of
America to foreign countries.
As I mentioned earlier, the comedy is very diverse and spans a number
of styles that keep it fresh. One of those happens to be the banter
routine, where Conner and some poor schmuck get caught in a rousing
game of idiot tennis. Much like the T.V. shows that plague cable these
days, Popstar has plenty of these moments, where the characters go
round and round on an issue. Some of these arguments are pretty good,
especially with the writing. However, there are other times where these
banters are annoying, or a bit too stupid to be enjoyable, (which
happened around the third or fourth time), as they rant on and on (much
like this review). This was especially true in the TMZ parodies, which
was a farce that needed to be two minutes and dropped like a scalding
cup of coffee.
And much like the banter, sometimes the acting itself goes too far into
the overacting territory. One certainly sees the SNL roots at times,
particularly in Samberg's moments of overemotional whining or
screaming. Some may like this silly style of acting, but when it is
drawn out…well that's when I lose interest. Even the supporting actors
trail in this territory, but fortunately the writing bails them out and
we move on with the film. There are even a few stunts that didn't fit
well into the movie, depriving the more emotional parts by hamming it
up with a cheesy interlude. Fortunately, much of these weaker parts are
short-lived and the low running time only further helps.
The VERDICT
I was pleased with this movie and for the most part found it
entertaining compared to half the comedic crap that comes out of the
woodwork. Popstar's creative presentation and diverse comedy style will
surely bring a little something for everyone. Sure there are moments
that things get out of hand, and there are lots of moments I wish were
cut out or edited down to say the least (especially more mature male
organ parts). However, Popstar indeed stands out and certainly deserves
a chance for those wanting a laugh. Worth a trip to the theater? Heck
no, it lacks pretty much everything I praise for a movie. But I
encourage a rental when you get the chance.
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