‘Popstar’ funny enough but formula seems a bit stale
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Former “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg and his comedy conspirators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone made their first feature in 2007, with “Hot Rod.” One reviewer called it “blissfully idiotic.”
That was me, actually, and it was supposed to be a compliment. The film has gained a cult following, deservedly so.
Their new one is called “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” and it has a few blissfully idiotic moments, to be sure. But it doesn’t seem as loopy or as risky as its predecessor. Schaffer and Taccone co-directed, and all three wrote the screenplay.
Samberg plays an egocentric singer, whose showbiz handle is Conner 4Real. After success as part of a rapping trio, he’s ditched one member (Schaffer) and relegated his other partner (Taccone) to backup duty as a DJ.
The saga of Conner’s bumpy fall from stardom is told in mock-rockumentary style. Does this format not feel just a tad stale?
Probably, but the hit-and-miss style of the writing conjures up some memorable scenes. I was especially partial to Conner’s marriage proposal to another vacuous pop star (Imogen Poots), which goes awry when a pack of allegedly trained wolves become distressed at the musical stylings of the singer Seal.
Seal is one of many celebrity cameos in the film: Adam Levine, Pink and Mariah Carey make particularly good impressions.
Many “SNL” stalwarts pop up in brief roles, and Sarah Silverman and Tim Meadows have actual supporting roles. Some go by so quickly you wonder whether a lot of material ended up on the cutting-room floor. How do you get the bright idea to cast the great Joan Cusack as Conner’s mom, and then relegate her performance to a couple of brief cutaways?
“Popstar” is on secure ground whenever its creators are dealing with music. Chief among the song spoofs here is an ode that compares sex to the raid on Osama bin Laden.
Conner also croons a social-justice tune demanding gay marriage, in which — as Ringo Starr points out — he does not seem to be aware that gay marriage is already legal. And there’s “Turn Up the Beef,” which contains 30 new Conner4Real catchphrases, each stupider than the last.
The songs draw blood, although the rest of the film is soft. “Popstar” should have a decent home-video life, if only because the torrent of jokes is nonstop — and at least a half-dozen of those catchphrases should be part of our slang for years to come.
“Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” 2 1/2 stars
From the creators of “Hot Rod,” a mockumentary about the fall of an egocentric pop star (Andy Samberg), crammed with jokes, celebrity cameos, and song parodies. The songs are the only comedy that really draws blood, but there are enough gags and catchphrases to give the movie a long life on home video.
Rating: R, for nudity, language
Showing: Everett, Monroe, Marysville, Meridian, Woodinville, Cascade Mall
