Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Guys all over the world, it is time we admit how we were in the late 80´s.

It is time to admit we all had New Kids On The Block LP albums in our bedrooms, dancing all night long to The Right Stuff, using our moms hairspray, trying to look like Jordan Knight. Some people might make fun of us for doing this, but trust me, the love for New Kids On The Block never dies. I can admit i scream like a girl, everytime i hear Please Don´t Go Girl, don´t we all do that ? Yes we do, and we should be proud of ourselves, only real men do this. Boybands have been around for many generations, and it seems that new ones keeps popping up every year. I can´t say i know many nowdays, but back in the good old days, even my father would play Backstreet Boys in his car, at high volume, and headbang through the highway. Boybands make us feel better, and we share our moments of life thanks to them. It is like we just want to throw our shirts off and dance in the rain to As Long As You Love Me, because men love to feel connected. Jonas Brothers used to be the ones to make us scream, nowdays it is more One Direction and 5 Seconds Of Summer, and all the rest of them. Boybands will live on forever in every generation, so men all ages will scream, cry, and throw up signs for the boy members, just like we did back in the New Kids On The Block. By the way Jordan Knight, if you are reading this, i am still waiting to get my chest signed. Comedians have made fun of boybands in many different ways, both on comedy shows and in comedy films. One of my favourite moments is a scene in the comedy Marci X, when Dr.S do a makeover on the boyband Boyz R Us, singing their song Let´s Wait. The film itself is nothing to remember, but i love this scene. I also love the awful boyband Big Ups, in the comedy film The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. Their cheesy pop sound, dancing awful, you just got to love them. This comedy film is actually a good one, so i suggest you rent it. So what if you were from a very famous boyband, but decide to go solo and became a huge pop star, would you go for it ? In the new mockumentary comedy Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, we get to experience the world of pop music, in a different way than most films. With Saturday Night Live comedian Andy Samberg ( who you perhaps remember in Hot Rod also ), in the lead role, doing a completely different character from his previous work, could this be one of his best comedy films so far ? Or is this perhaps worse than we could have expected ?

From an early age, three boys started their own boyband known as Style Boyz. As they grow up, and continue with their music. Connor ( Andy Samberg ), Owen ( Jorma Taccone ) and Lawrence ( Akika Shcaffer ) are all the original Style Boyz, After making succesfull albums, touring and performing for for fans, they decide to finally split up. Connor have his own plans, he is going to be the biggest pop star in the world, He manage to do so and is ready to launch his next hit album, with a even bigger tour. But after some big problems, with low sales, and personal problems on tour, Connor is beginning to see his future differently. His popstar life is falling apart, and he does not know what to do. Connor´s personal DJ, and close friend Owen ( Jorma Taccone ) have an idea. They should go back and reunite The Style Boyz again, and get old friend Lawrence ( Akiva Schaffer ) to join them since their break up. But is it possible to make it work with The Style Boyz again, after so long being away from each other ?

When it comes to films, that takes on musical acts, or bands, we have a lot to choose between. I am not talking about documentary films, more about films based on bands or artists who can be both fictional or based on true stories. Then we have films that makes fun of the music industry, especially about pop music. And this is where the new comedy mockumentary Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping comes in. A mockumentary that is supposed to make fun of the music industry, with comedian Andy Samberg, known for his comedy acts on Saturnday Night Live, tv comedy sitcom Brooklyn Nine and several comedy films over the years. He also have made several music videos, making fun on pop music, my personal favourite is 3-way with Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. Since i have been a fan of Andy Samberg for a long time, i was curious to see how he would do a mockumentary about pop music. It has been a long time i have laughed at a comedy, that is stupid but manage to deliver a lot of funny situations. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping manage to make fun of the music industry, and do it in a hilarious way. The popstar known as Connar4Real, really funny played by Andy Samberg, is the kind of popstar we would want on stage worldwide. He is vulgar, a sex machine and perhaps the worst role model for any teenager, and this makes him perfect in every way. The song Not Gay have probably the best message ever, and you have to love the video where artist Pink shows up. There are pretty of funny live performances, inerviews, club scenes, and other footage where we follow Connar4Real, making a fool of himself, but the people seem to love him. But after some problems with his latest album release, he tries to go other ways, and still make a big mess. I love the fact that this mockumentary tries to make the main artist Connar4Real look like a brainless dumb ass, who still manage to keep himself in the media. Andy Sandberg does one of the best performances i have ever seen him do, in a very different comedy. His looks, his personality and his vulgar style, everything fits this character, and this would be the perfect combination for a modern pop star. To see the former Style Boyz fight against each other, try and adjust to the future, gives you a glimpse of how reunions of bands can be like. Nothing is as easy what it seems. We all know how long it took for NKOTB to reunite after their long break up, Style Boyz are going through many changes. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping may not be a masterpiece in any way, or manage to deliver all the way, but the satire is so well put together, you can´t help having a great time. Directors Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are both members of The Lonely Island, who have been making funny music videos and sketches with Andy Samberg. They know exactly what they are doing with this mockumentary about boyband love. The cameo guests like Mariah Carey, Seal, Nas, and many more, makes this even more fun. There are a few scenes, where they make fun of Hollywood news reporters TMZ ( named differently in this film ), that just don´t work so well. Apart from this, we have one of the funniest comedies i have seen this year. Andy Samberg proves why he is such a great comedian, when he gets to do characters that fit him really tight. Skip the swedish lame comedies that comes out this summer, make sure you laugh instead with Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. I might start my own boyband after this, how about The Pony Boys ? All real men loves to go for a ride, don´t they ?

Rating: DDDD