From the minds of Saturday Night Live veterans: Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone (collectively known as The Lonely Island) comes an over-the-top comedy about a fading pop-star singer known as Conner Friel AKA Conner4Real (Andy Samberg) who must rethinks his career after his second solo album 'Connquest' tank at the Billboard 100 chart. Without spoiling the movie, too much, the film directed by Schaffer and Taccone is offering nothing new. After all, 1984's 'This is Spiral Tap' & 1978's 'The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash' did the music mockumentary, way better than this movie even did. Also, this movie plot arc is a familiar one: An arrogant celebrity falls from grace, but eventually realizes his own pride and narcissism have contributed to that downfall. So, in sense, the story is a little tiresome, clichés and predictable. However, I think, the reason why, this over the top movie work is because it's so funny. While, this movie lacks believable. It's make up for its lack of seriously, in its utterly outrageous nature. Yet, the whole thing felt a bit lazy, as they were really going for the low hanging fruit with this film. The jokes were a little too juvenile and gross with the sexual innuendo and harsh language for some viewers, but for me, I didn't mind it, because it landed hard on my funny bone. I found the whole thing, very laughable, even if it's low brow and relies too much on shock value like graphic nudity, drug use, and violence. Who knows, if the penis feature in the film is producer Judd Apatow's junk or not, but it was funny to see. Yet, the whole joke about the man who entire job is punching him in the nuts to remind Conner where he came from, could had been, use more. It's seem like it was forgotten. I also like the fact that the movie is a parody of Justin Bieber's career and his 2011's documentary movie "Never Say Never'. So, that is a plus. However, the parody of the Celebrity Gossip Show 'TMZ' was kinda fall flat for me. Still, I love the other cultural references in the film such as Disney 1998's 'Parent Trap'. That was semi-OK. However, it's the songs written by Lonely Island that made the movie. I have a blast, listening to the lyrics of 'The Finest Girl', 'Donkey Roll', "Incredible Thoughts' and "I'm so humble' written by the Lonely Island. Yet, there were other songs that I kinda wish, were in the film, like "F**k Off" that was deleted from the film. Even the songs like 'Two Banditos' and 'Hunter the Hungry Is Gon' Eat' with controversial rapper, Hunter the Hungry (Chris Redd) were kinda funny, even if it's highly offensive. I think Andy Samberg did a great job as the narcissism Conner4Real in his acting, rapping and singing. His character was trouble, but not unlikable. The other fictional characters in this film, are just as watchable. I love the character of Owen (Jorma Taccone) even if it is way too similar to the Kevin Powell role from 2007's 'Hot Rod'. I also dig the short cameo of Justin Timberlake as Tyrus Quash, Conner's chef, even if it's uncredited. Made me wish for the days of SNL Digital Shorts. I also enjoy the cameos of other SNL alums pop up, too, like Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Will Arnett, and Bill Hader. Yet, it's the other celebrity cameos that were a lot memorable. Singers like Adam Levine, Seal and Michael Bolton playing themselves, gave the movie, the best laughs. Others, not so much. The interviews parts with Ringo Starr, Nas, Simon Cowell and others, felt out of place, and not well-used. It's weird to hear them, talk about Conner4real as if he has been singing for years. It doesn't make sense that a young Usher would go into dancing, because of the Style Boys 'Donkey Roll', when, technically they're the same age. The whole 'archival' footage doesn't add up as well. I really have no clue, how old Conner4real is supposed to be. Overall: I wouldn't say, I'm a Style Boy for Life, but I do have to say the movie is kinda dope, even if being dope isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Still, highly recommended.
Do the Donkey Roll! This music mockumentary was really stupid, but also kinda funny.
19 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers