Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Comedy, Music, Mockumentary
Directed By: Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone
If you have been watching Saturday Night Live over the past half decade you know the funniest people to still put content on their program is The Lonely Island. The comedic music group made up of comedians Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone who have produced such hits as "Dick in a Box", "I'm on a Boat", and "Jizz in My Pants" have been the only consistency of quality the show has known in recent years. This makes it no surprise that they would eventually get to spin-off into a coveted SNL movie, an honor shared by some really great and not so great movies. They have a bunch of new tracks and a butt load of hilarious social satire to throw in our faces in their wacky "behind-the-music" style film.
Shot as a faux documentary, Popstar follows mega star Connor4Real (Andy Samberg) as his newest record drops onto the market. Made famous through his work in an old school boy band named "The Style Boyz" he broke off into a solo career after they would break up over internal problems, despite being together since they were kids. Connor4Real would become the biggest music star in the world, but his star power is wearing off and when he new record isn't received as well as he'd hoped, he will do anything to keep from falling off the top. From bringing in new blood to open his show to falling prey to cheap stage gimmicks to attract people to his concerts. It's a classic tale of celebrity hubris set in the modern music world and it makes for some brilliant comedy.
Going with the mockumentary style of filming for this movie was the perfect choice, it adds another level of reality to a film that is already a brilliant satire of the music industry and celebritism. Interspersed with handfuls of cameos by real life famous musicians they establish a world where Connor4Real has become the biggest star and it all makes sense. His hit songs like "I'm So Humble" featuring Adam Levine or "Equal Rights" featuring P!nk feel like they would legitimately exist within this world and that they would influence such artists as Mariah Carey and A$AP Rocky.
The movie follows the same simple beats that any real life Rockumentary would follow but they make sure to execute them in absurd ways that are sure to bring out laughs. When Connor gives Owen (Jorma Taccone) his new helmet his to wear on stage (much like the Daft Punk fellas) they are sure to make it obnoxiously large and colorful so when things go wrong they do so in a wonderfully funny way. It's little things like this that add up by the end of the film to ensure you have a smile on your face throughout the entire flick.
For anyone who's a fan of The Lonely Island going into this movie the most important and exciting aspect about the movie was the new music. We all knew they would be cooking up some new tracks for this one and they definitely did not disappoint. With the official soundtrack boasting well over twenty new tracks the ones that were chosen to be used within the film are all among the best they have ever done. Songs like "Mona Lisa" and "Turn Up the Beef" are sure to satisfy any long time fans as well as bring in some new ones.
Though The Lonely Island were made popular through their work with SNL what many don't know is that these three guys were together well before they made it to the show. They have been making comedy sketches together since college and that chemistry definitely shows within their work. From the collaboration on the actual music to their on screen chemistry it's no surprise these guys have known each other for so long.
The key to making a good comedy is to make sure that it is funny until the end, if it drags out or loses its comedic touch in the final act it can severely affect the quality of the film. Sitting at a tight eighty-six minute runtime Popstar never loses its luster. Anytime the movie may feel like it's about to drag on something it's over and we are on to the next joke and the next plotline. They are spitting a joke a minute with this movie and even if some of them don't land for you there is plenty to hit your funny bone regardless. They have successfully updated what This is Spinal Tap did all those years ago for a modern audience and the modern music industry, and they do it just as hilariously.
As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!
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