I’ll admit it. I am a Belieber.
My friends look the other way as I thoroughly enjoy his addicting music. However, while I will occasionally pull up a Justin Bieber song on YouTube, I had no interest in seeing 105 minutes of the young pop star in 3-D. At least, not until I read a surprisingly positive review that claimed the documentary was better than most movies released in past few weeks.
I needed to see for myself.
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never documents Bieber’s rise to fame while giving the audience a backstage pass to the ten days on Bieber’s tour just prior to his big performance at Madison Square Garden.
The film introduces the public to the vital people who have become his makeshift family. Mama vocal coach, goofy brother stylist, stern big sister tour manager and uncle bodyguard all are vital to the success of his tour.
Dynamic concert footage of Bieber’s hit singles transitions the different stages of his story. “Bigger” accompanies Bieber through his childhood in Stratford, Ontario, in Canada, with his single teen mom and doting grandparents. His first major hit, “One Time,” plays as audiences watch him blossom from little boy to superstar.
Bieber’s only real obstacle on his way to the largest show of his career is the throat infection he discovers three days before the big event. Even with this “tragedy,” the film is littered with funny moments, like a slow-motion montage about his hair, set to Etta James’ “At Last.”
The role of technology in Bieber’s career provides the film’s most compelling fodder.
Scooter Braun, producer of the film and Bieber’s manager, explains that Bieber’s rapid rise to fame is due in large part to the way he utilized resources such as Youtube and Twitter.
The film shows fans the same Youtube videos Braun saw when he discovered the young singer.
Even in his early days as a performer, one tweet from Bieber could result in a crowd of girls at any of his shows or radio appearances. This influx of fans is what caught the eye of iconic music producer L.A. Reid, who signed Bieber to Island Records in 2008.
Like many films this year, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never portrays the World Wide Web’s importance to younger generations’ changing social scenery. The film reveals, not only how Bieber has utilized the Internet to reach fans, but also how fans have used it to reach Bieber. Millions of tweets and videos fly across the screen, each one representing a fan sending out a heartfelt message to their star.
With the documentary targeting a preteen audience, in maintains an expectedly glossy tone.
Bieber exudes just as much charm as his adoring fans would expect. Audiences are shown a seemingly angst-free teenager, a pop star who humbly prays before eating his pizza.
A true promotional product, the film never risks casting Bieber in a less-than-flattering light.
In fact, while viewers see plenty of him throughout the film, Bieber rarely addresses the camera. He never reflects on the difficulties of fame at such a young age or how it feels to be responsible for the jobs of so many people.
The movie’s most chilling moment shows a tour manager telling the story of a wide-eyed Bieber, listening to Madonna accuse the country of stealing Michael Jackson’s childhood.
Yet, what the movie lacks in emotional depth, it makes up for in energetic cinematography, in a use of 3-D technology almost as big as Bieber himself, with groundbreaking clarity and color.
Jon M. Chu, the film’s director, includes the typical 3-D shots of Bieber’s hand reaching out into the camera, layers of pictures expounding and confetti that seems to fly straight into viewers’ faces.
Chu’s innovative side comes out during the film’s many concert sequences. With his experience on the Step Up sequels and his cutting-edge web series The LXD, Chu clearly has perfected the art of filming dance. He expertly captures the endless energy radiating from Bieber and the many stars who join him on stage.
If this film achieves anything, it makes great strides for the future of 3-D concert documentaries.
Overall, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is a good clean time for anyone who secretly – or not so secretly – enjoys Bieber’s music. It’s also a fun jaunt for those tracing the evolution of 3-D technology in the entertainment industry.
Viewers will leave the theater with a newfound respect for Bieber’s tireless work ethic and an earned sense of awe for the future of 3-D films, humming rounds of “Baby, baby, baby,” for the next week.
