Barking Mad About Films review Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Film Main Cast:
Conner: Andy Samberg * Owen: Jorma Taccone *#
Lawrence: Akiva Schaffer *# Paula: Sarah Silverman
Harry: Tim Meadows
*Written by as well Directed by as well#
Run Time: 87 Minutes Certificate: 15
Link to Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXqy408-dBk
We were aware of the work of Lonely Island (Samberg/Taccone and Schaffer) from their many musical videos they used to post online before they went viral and were snapped up for bigger success on shows like Saturday Night Live.
In 2007 the lonely island team released Hot Rod, a great fun film, in which we first really got to see the talents of Andy Samberg. But apart from regular work with Adam Sandler from That’s My Boy to his voice work on Hotel Transylvania films, it’s his TV work we know him best for, especially Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, however, is a fantastic addition to his resume, a spoof mockumentary of teen sensations like Justin Bieber; Katy Perry and One Direction.
Conner has broken free of his old boy band The Style Boyz, and is now a huge successful solo artist under the name of Conner4real.
He has kept Owen with him to play keyboards, but we learn he has had a huge falling out with Lawrence after he did not credit him for writing his ground-breaking catch phrase verse.
The film really shows the changes we now see of celebrity, thanks to the likes of social media, as Conner vlogs his every move from hair cuts to waking up.
Success for him is now at his highest, as the world awaits his second album, the most anticipated of all time. It would appear that Conner has refused any help and has done everything on the album himself and when released, we discover it is awful.
Conner completely drops out of fashion, and we see how he reacts to fall from grace and the things he desperately does, from signing a deal to have his songs played from all kitchen appliances to hiring an edgy support act in Hunter (Chris Redd) who then becomes a huge act and plays pranks on Conner.
One of those pranks nearly ends Conner’s career, leaving him naked on stage. This causes Conner to propose to his movie star girlfriend Ashley (Imogen Poots) and their celebrity wedding turns out to be a disaster with a near death experience for their wedding singer, Seal.
Conner then has a huge on stage battle with Hunter, after he plays into his set time, this signals the end for his solo career it would appear, as even his close friend Harry, who has been his manager since the Style Boyz days drops him.
Of course, during this time Conner rediscovers himself through drawing horses. In this time he discovers who his real friends are, causing him to reconnect with the other Style Boyz, with the help of his PR manager Paula.
Could the much-anticipated reunion be on the cards? Find out in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
The songs are very funny and as you would imagine for Conner to fall so out of grace, very offensive.
The film has lots of cameos from the likes of Simon Cowell and singers like Usher; Pharrell Williams and Mariah Carey to great comic actors such as Will Arnett; Will Forte; James Buckley; Maya Rudolph; Bill Hader and even Andy’s 99 co-star Chelsea Peretti.
Also worth a mention are Joan Cusack as Tilly, as Conner’s Mum and a scene-stealing Justin Timberlake as Conner’s personal chef, Quash.
We really did find this film a huge amount of fun with some truly hilarious scenes, a fan signing from his limo and a sick turtle are amongst the most memorable. We think it is well worth a watch, especially if an Andy Samberg/Lonely Island fan.
Buy or rent from Amazon here:
Get the soundtrack here:
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