Former “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg and the Lonely Island guys take to the big screen this weekend with faux-music documentary “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” and the film is getting solidly mediocre reviews. But there’s one element that truly elevates the film: An epic list of celebrity cameos.
With so many celebrities making an appearance, some playing themselves and some playing an odd list of characters, which ones are the best? Spoilers abound, but we think that five of them tied for the top spot.
Mariah Carey
The pop diva gets in a couple of the film’s funniest lines as one of the celebrities interviewed for the doc about pop star Conner4Real’s (Samberg) life. Speaking about “I’m So Humble,” a ridiculously catchy track that Conner sings, Carey admits she relates to the message. “I really connected with that, because I’m the most humble person I know,” deadpans Carey, who famously played a live version of her hit “Fantasy” as she gave birth to her twin babies "so they could hear the applause as they entered the world.”
Will Arnett
Arnett plays an excellent takeoff on TMZ founder Harvey Levin in his syndicated show “TMZ on TV.” In the “Popstary” universe, there’s a celebrity “news” show called “CMZ.” As the “CMZ”ringleader, Arnett boasts Levin’s signature T-shirts and a cup in hand (an entire pitcher at one point) as he holds court in a newsroom.
Usher
In the movie, Usher earnestly makes another startling confession: His stellar dance skills are all inspired by the “Donkey Roll,” a really cool move coined by Conner and his buddies.
Justin Timberlake
Of course Timberlake, a Lonely Island collaborator, shows up — though as a super-creepy personal chef who makes all kind of creations with carrots.
Seal
The always-good-sport Seal suffers a brutal attack in “Popstar,” as he’s trying to provide a beautiful song as the background to Conner’s proposal to his girlfriend, Ashley Wednesday (Imogen Poots). It’s not his fault that Conner hired wolves as additional entertainment.
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