Cinematography:
Brandon TrostComposer:
Matthew ComptonCast:
Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, Sarah Silverman, Imogen Poots, Maya Rudolph, Joan Cusack, James Buckley, Tim Meadows, Mike Birbiglia (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone co-direct and co-write this comedy starring Andy Samberg as mega pop star Conner4Real. Once a member of teenage boy band the Style Boyz and now a successful solo artist, Conner is intent on cementing his place at the top of the music industry. However, when his latest album dramatically bombs, the rapper is forced to go all out in an extravagant tour full of outrageous gimmicks and publicity stunts in a desperate attempt to reinvent his failing image. With sales continuing to decline, the tour spectacularly backfires, only hastening Conner's rapid decline into musical obscurity. After hitting rock bottom when the tour is finally cancelled, original Style Boyz members Owen (Taccone) and Lawrence (Schaffer) suggest a reunion as a way to salvage what's left of their friend's career. With nothing left to lose, a brief appearance at the Pop Awards provides the perfect stage for Conner to swallow his pride and join his old bandmates for their triumphant return to the top of the music game. The all-star cast includes Bill Hader, Sarah Silverman and Will Arnett as well as a host of musical talents such as Snoop Dogg and Seal. (Universal Pictures UK)
(more)Reviews (2)
A clever satirical parody of practically everything you can imagine under the term “music industry". Andy Samberg is excellent in the lead role, he's not too far off from Sacha Baron Cohen and I'm probably starting to get more interested now, but I also appreciate a lot of the other people in supporting to negligible roles who were often not afraid to make fun of themselves.
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I really wish I could give this film more than 60%, but the story is so incredibly clichéd and the main plotline lacks any unexpected twists, that I just can't justify it otherwise. It has to be said, though, that the film is still entertaining and the characters and their performances, not to mention the actual musicians, are simply entertaining.
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