"I'm not your normal definition of a rockstar/I don't complain when my private jet is subpar..."
-Conner4Real
Conner4Real(Andy Samberg) has been dope ever since he was born. Being an insanely popular rapper doesn't hurt, either. His first solo album, "Thriller Also" went multi-platinum. He has adoring fans that he calls "Confidants". He was part of a massively successful boy band, "The Style Boyz", popular for their hit single/dance, "Donkey Roll". They broke up after disagreements between Conner and Lawrence(Akiva Schaffer), who has since lived life as a farmer. The other Style Boy, Owen(Jorma Taccone) has stuck around and acts as Conner's DJ at his shows. Also on Conner's payroll are his publicist(Sarah Silverman), his manager(Tim Meadows), his roadie(Bill Hader), his girlfriend(Imogen Poots), his mom(Joan Cusack), his bagpipe player(Will Forte) and his Chef(an adorable Justin Timberlake). He doesn't take life or his music for granted. He has a lot riding on his music career. That's why his newest album, "Connquest" needs to do well. As he says early on, "This can't go away." The next hour and a half follows his road to album release and his big tour schedule, and all the ups, downs and inside outs of being a Popstar.
What makes "Popstar" so alluring? What is it about the film that makes it absolutely appealing to me? Just what is it? Well, several different things. For starters, the movie is a cut-throat satire on spoiled celebrities, one in particular that's glaringly obvious from the first moment Conner steps onscreen. I'll give ya a hint: his name's Justin Bieber. Ah, damn, I gave it away. Throughout almost the entire movie, Conner acts like an innocent little moron, a pure-hearted soul, to be sure, but vastly stupid when it comes to the big picture. His music is a huge example of this. More on the individual songs a little later, but they all revolve around a certain theme. Conner is, obviously, very passionate about what he sings and raps about, but the problem is, he goes about the topics in the wrong direction. His career could be made or broken with the release of this album, which is the one thing the movie never explains quite clearly: when the album is released, it receives awful reviews, but at his shows, he performs to a pretty decent-sized crowd. 2+2 isn't quite equaling 4 in this situation. Granted, his manager brings on an underground rapper to help bring in more sales, by the name of Hunter The Hungry(Chris Redd), an amalgamation of Tyler, The Creator and Hopsin, who brings more attention to himself on the tour than Conner, but, even before he's brought on, he's doing pretty well for himself. Aside from this small little notice, the movie doesn't really misstep in it's goal of being massively funny.
The biggest joke of the movie is that Conner's an idiot and, without the right actor, the movie could've sunk based off of his portrayal, alone. Thankfully, they got the right performer. Andy Samberg is an affable goofball, a total charmer who nails the part of Conner as if he was born to. Conner just wants to make sure he's loved by anyone and everyone. He wants to make sure his music speaks to the people. He loves doing what he does and it shows all the way throughout. Since this is a Lonely Island production(The Lonely Island is the mock-rap group that Samberg, Taccone and Schaffer make up), it seems fitting that the two other main characters would be played by the rest of the group. Taccone is another charmer, playing the innocent Owen, while Schaffer captures the arc of a bitter farmer and he does so brilliantly. Other cast highlights include Tim Meadows as Conner's manager, Harry, who used to be in the highly popular Tony! Toni! Tone! back when it was Tony! Toni! Tone! Tonee? as he wanted to be the enigmatic one of the group; Chris Redd as Hunter The Hungry, a total wack-job rapper and doesn't care if you find him weird(his lyrics make more than a case for that); Sarah Silverman as his staright-edged publicist and Justin Timberlake as Tyrus Qualsh, Conner's adorable soft-spoken chef. Cameos are littered throughout the entire movie, including Nas, Ringo Starr, 50 Cent and even Martin Sheen.
The soundtrack is the real star of the show. Taking away the five dialogue clips, you're getting 23 amazingly catchy, off-the-wall original songs to devour. Only read ahead if you wanna know what you're getting into, of if you've seen the movie, before. Things get started with "I'm So Humble", which features Adam Levine, that's basically Conner boasting about how, even with the many flashy things he has, he's just so humble; "Equal Rights", which features Pink, which describes Conner's frustrations that people who aren't straight don't have equal rights. There's only two problems: 1) The song dropped a full year after gay marriage was made legal across the board and 2) all throughout the song, he keeps saying he's not gay. "Turn Up The Beef", which features Emma Stone(as Claudia Cantell) and it's basically an excuse for Conner to boast a bunch of nonsensical catchphrases together. "Finest Girl(Bin Laden Song)" might be the most bizarre of the bunch, with Conner trying to be the suave romantic he is, by describing an encounter with a girl who wanted to engage in sex in the same manner that the U.S. government assassinated Osama Bin Laden. It's as outrageously funny as it sounds. "Mona Lisa" describes how Conner feels that the most famous painting in the world is an "overrated piece of shit" and "worse than the pyramids". "Hunter The Hungry Is Gon' Eat" is basically Hunter's introductory song. "Should I Move?" is a bonus song that was cut from the movie(and, weirdly enough, not shown in any deleted scenes on the blu-ray release) which features Akon(who appears briefly in the beginning for all of three seconds) and is describing Conner's dilemma in deciding, whether or not, he should purchase a second house and leave the, already expensive one he has. "2 Bandito's" is an outrageous rap-duet with Conner and Hunter. "Things In My Jeep", which features Linkin Park, is Lawrence's attempt at a solo song by describing all of the things that are in his Jeep(surprise) in an aggressive fashion. "Ashley Wednesday", sung by Seal, himself, is a slower version of "Mona Lisa", only this time, it's a loving ode to his girlfriend. "Fuck Off", another bonus track(which can be found on the DVD and blu-ray) that has Conner telling the kids of America, that, if they don't like their parents or teachers telling them what to do, just tell them to... well, y'know. At the very end, he concludes by saying "Be good to each other." "Donkey Roll" is a Style Boyz song that features their iconic dance; "Ibitha" is Conner's attempt to connect to a cultural audience by pointing out that people in Spain pronounce the letter "S" with a "th" sound and spends the whole song doing it; "Owen's Song" is Owen's attempt at a solo piece; "Sick Glenda", another Style Boyz piece, describes Glenda, a girl they'd love to hook up with, but every time they call, she's always sick. "Incredible Thoughts" is the Style Boyz sharing their "incredible" thoughts and the last one of explanation is another bonus track, "Maximus", an ode to Conner's beloved turtle. Other songs include "Me Likey Dat", "Legalize It", "I'm A Weirdo", "Karate Guy", "Rock Roll Skate" and "Hey Ya Ho".
"Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping", a redundant title if there ever was one, is smart in it's stupidity. Whereas comedies like "Fifty Shades Of Black" and "Dirty Grandpa" are horribly offensive and applaing excuses for cinema, "Popstar" manages to be a comedy that gets everything right. Any material that might seem offensive(if one isn't careful and doesn't look into it, "Equal Rights" and "Finest Girl" could offend those who aren't paying enough attention) and makes it hilarious. In Conner is a humble, good-natured individual, but also someone who doesn't think before he speaks. Samberg carries the entire movie in his arms and masters the art of subtlety. Schaffer and Taccone spend most of their time behind the camera(as they directed it), but when they do come on-screen, they're just as hysterical. There's really not much more to say, but if you ever feel like not stopping ever stopping, whatever that may mean, then this is the movie for you.
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