Hollywood doesn't do comedies very well anymore. With the plethora of comic book action and torturous horror genre pieces littering theaters today, it's hard to find something that is genuinely funny on purpose. But Popstar does the trick. It is uproariously funny and offers great satirical commentary on the ever-increasing absurdity of celebrity and pop culture in the 21st century. And, most importantly, I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in a long time.
Popstar is a mockumentary in the style of This is Spinal Tap or Behind the Music, with a camera crew following and various sit-down interviewees discussing the exploits of mega-star musicians. Connor (Andy Samberg), Owen (Jorma Taccone), and Lawrence (Akiva Shaffer) were once a power-pop trio, Style Boyz. They were beloved by other artists and made millions. But the band has a falling out and Connor pursues solo projects, with his music and live shows becoming ever more experimental to keep up with the rabid demands of fans obsessed with whatever is the next new thing. The plot here is run-of-the-mill for these types of films. Superstardom gets the best of Connor, he breaks away from his friends and what made him successful, and he must discover that getting back to his roots will give him ultimate happiness and pop music respect.
But it's the countless cameos and endless inside gags that make this film work. The fact that Samberg and Co. were able to get Mariah Carey to say on camera with a straight face, "I'm probably the most humble person I know," should win all of them some sort of award. There is a brilliant mockery of the clowns at TMZ which is performed with the nuance of a sledgehammer, just as it should be. A joke about Seal's singing that makes animals insane is spot on. And an obscene bit with a limo window had me in tears for a solid ten minutes. Sure, much of the film is sophomoric and raunchy, with humor that will delight the under-22 crowd. And if you are squeamish about such vulgarity, this movie probably isn't for you.
But I do think there's something quite valuable in Popstar that may get lost amid the weed smoking, language, and nudity. The film holds an enormous spotlight (and mirror) upon the ridiculousness of our culture. The lyrics of Connor's songs are horrifically filthy, but that isn't the joke. The joke is that musicians every day have equally awful lyrics, and people devour them and turn them into hits. Do a simple Google search for "dumbest pop/rap lyrics." Seriously, go do it. You will find more insanity than in a mental hospital. The fact that Lil Wayne is a bazillionaire is a testament to this. Stringing together f-words and calling it rap or harmonizing incoherent drivel, like this from boy-band LFO, "Sometimes we swim around / like two dolphins in the oceans of our hearts," is actually normal nowadays. Connor's music (along with Style Boyz) is not far off. And that's the saddest joke of all.
Connor's publicist (played by Sarah Silverman) at one point says her goal is to make Connor "everywhere." Being a singer or a movie star or an athlete isn't enough in our current culture. Fame means being a pervasive presence in the American consciousness. This is how the Kardashians, who have no actual talent, have become icons of television, fashion, social life, and technological media. They are everywhere. And this everywhere-ness is the monster we all have contributed in creating.
This film is filled with clever (and many not-so-clever) jokes. But perhaps the ultimate joke is on us for allowing this to happen. Popstar is truly one of the funnier movies to appear in quite a while. But don't ignore the serious reality of the pop it presents.
Grade: A-
Popstar is a mockumentary in the style of This is Spinal Tap or Behind the Music, with a camera crew following and various sit-down interviewees discussing the exploits of mega-star musicians. Connor (Andy Samberg), Owen (Jorma Taccone), and Lawrence (Akiva Shaffer) were once a power-pop trio, Style Boyz. They were beloved by other artists and made millions. But the band has a falling out and Connor pursues solo projects, with his music and live shows becoming ever more experimental to keep up with the rabid demands of fans obsessed with whatever is the next new thing. The plot here is run-of-the-mill for these types of films. Superstardom gets the best of Connor, he breaks away from his friends and what made him successful, and he must discover that getting back to his roots will give him ultimate happiness and pop music respect.
But it's the countless cameos and endless inside gags that make this film work. The fact that Samberg and Co. were able to get Mariah Carey to say on camera with a straight face, "I'm probably the most humble person I know," should win all of them some sort of award. There is a brilliant mockery of the clowns at TMZ which is performed with the nuance of a sledgehammer, just as it should be. A joke about Seal's singing that makes animals insane is spot on. And an obscene bit with a limo window had me in tears for a solid ten minutes. Sure, much of the film is sophomoric and raunchy, with humor that will delight the under-22 crowd. And if you are squeamish about such vulgarity, this movie probably isn't for you.
But I do think there's something quite valuable in Popstar that may get lost amid the weed smoking, language, and nudity. The film holds an enormous spotlight (and mirror) upon the ridiculousness of our culture. The lyrics of Connor's songs are horrifically filthy, but that isn't the joke. The joke is that musicians every day have equally awful lyrics, and people devour them and turn them into hits. Do a simple Google search for "dumbest pop/rap lyrics." Seriously, go do it. You will find more insanity than in a mental hospital. The fact that Lil Wayne is a bazillionaire is a testament to this. Stringing together f-words and calling it rap or harmonizing incoherent drivel, like this from boy-band LFO, "Sometimes we swim around / like two dolphins in the oceans of our hearts," is actually normal nowadays. Connor's music (along with Style Boyz) is not far off. And that's the saddest joke of all.
Connor's publicist (played by Sarah Silverman) at one point says her goal is to make Connor "everywhere." Being a singer or a movie star or an athlete isn't enough in our current culture. Fame means being a pervasive presence in the American consciousness. This is how the Kardashians, who have no actual talent, have become icons of television, fashion, social life, and technological media. They are everywhere. And this everywhere-ness is the monster we all have contributed in creating.
This film is filled with clever (and many not-so-clever) jokes. But perhaps the ultimate joke is on us for allowing this to happen. Popstar is truly one of the funnier movies to appear in quite a while. But don't ignore the serious reality of the pop it presents.
Grade: A-