One of the Most Criminally Underrated Comedies of the Last Decade Is Finally Streaming on Netflix
Netflix has been on quite a roll lately with the solid slate of out-of-house films that have been added to their service, including, but not limited to, the likes of Mark Wahlberg-starring dramedy Instant Family and DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot. One of the newest and most exciting additions to Netflix’s extensive catalog of excellent movies is The Lonely Island‘s satirical comedy, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. The aforementioned comedy trio of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer have brought their signature brand of crude, satirical humor to a vast array of sketches, songs, and films, with Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping being the first feature-length theatrical release where two of the group’s members (Taccone and Schaffer) directed and starred, while Samberg starred and collaborated elsewhere on the production.
Released in the summer of 2016, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping takes the shape of a mockumentary and follows the exploits of glamorous pop star Conner4Real (Samberg), former member of the rap group, The Style Boyz, a trio he formed with his childhood best friends, Owen (Taccone) and Lawrence (Schaffer). Upon a brutal break-up which saw Conner and Lawrence drift apart, Conner becomes a famous solo artist, bringing along Owen as his DJ. Life is grand for Conner and his bevy of hits, including “I’m So Humble”, “Equal Rights”, and “Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)”— all of which go quite hard, I might add— that is, until his latest album, “Connquest”, is a spectacular bomb, which sends Conner into a downward spiral as he tries to get his career back on track.
‘Popstar’ Is One of the 2010s Best Comedies
Of all the great R-rated comedies of the 2010s, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping stands out as one of the most unique, hilarious films of a decade already ripe with superb comedies like 21 Jump Street or the star-studded This Is the End. Popstar‘s biting satirical commentary on the music industry finds the perfect line between ridiculous and genius, and the sheer number of celebrities that have been recruited to create Conner’s fictional world is something to truly commend, offering a real tongue-in-cheek angle that is endlessly uproarious.
Andy Samberg’s hilariously committed performance as Conner4Real goes down as some of his best work to date, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with his iconic roles, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Detective Jake Peralta to Nyles from 2020’s Hulu Original comedy, Palm Springs. Samberg embodies the cheeky arrogance and self-pitying vapidness of a spoiled pop star beautifully, but still manages to make Conner feel like a human despite his daft nature. From the more over-the-top, overtly hilarious jokes to the more subtly goofy lines, Samberg is one of the film’s strongest aspects, and no one could have played this role quite like he did here.
‘Popstar’ Is a Touching Story About Friendship
Image via Universal Pictures
While its crude, in-your-face satire is wildly entertaining, Popstar isn’t without its fair share of heart. There’s a genuinely touching story about friendship here, particularly with the relationship between Conner and Lawrence. Samberg and Schaffer have incredible chemistry, and they riff on each other marvelously, giving the tension and banter between these friends-turned-enemies-turned-friends so much wit and comedic nuance. It’s still as silly as one would expect from a Lonely Island production, but if you don’t at least feel somewhat touched by the finale, I’m afraid you may not be human.
Not to go unmentioned is Jorma Taccone, who is equally great as Owen, the underestimated Style Boy forced to live in Conner’s shadow. Some of the film’s best gags, including a sidesplitting bit involving a futuristic-looking helmet, are surrounded by Taccone, and the compassion he shows for both of his friends is undeniably endearing. The scenes of the Lonely Island members together are easily the biggest showcases for the film’s surprising heart.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is the gift that keeps on giving with every rewatch, with every joke operating on multiple layers, every character interaction being packed with bites of comedic gold, and every song firing on all cylinders. At first glance, some may dismiss Popstar as a fairly standard irreverent R-rated comedy, but there’s so much more beneath the surface of this genius satire, from its brilliant soundtrack full of clever (and catchy) pop songs to its sharp commentary. Next time you’re looking for something short and sweet to watch on Netflix, consider becoming a fellow Confidant.
Source : collider.com
