Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A super famous pop star becomes not famous, tries to become famous again, and maybe learns a lesson along the way, mostly by accident.

🍿 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Rise of The Style Boyz

The movie opens with a mockumentary showcasing the early success of The Style Boyz, a hip-hop trio consisting of Conner (Andy Samberg), Owen (Jorma Taccone), and Lawrence (Akiva Schaffer). Through archival footage and interviews, we see their meteoric rise to fame, fueled by catchy songs and ridiculous dance moves like the ‘Donkey Roll.’ Conner’s charisma gradually overshadows Owen and Lawrence, sowing the seeds of future conflict. The group’s dynamic establishes Conner as the star, with the other two members increasingly marginalized.

Conner Goes Solo: The Birth of Conner4Real

Driven by ego and the desire for individual recognition, Conner breaks away from The Style Boyz to pursue a solo career as Conner4Real. Owen remains by his side as a mostly silent DJ, while Lawrence retreats to a secluded farm. Conner’s first album is a massive success, further inflating his ego and reinforcing the belief that he can do no wrong. This section highlights Conner’s growing disconnect from reality, surrounding himself with yes-men and extravagant luxuries. His music becomes increasingly self-absorbed and shallow.

CONNquest: A Critical and Commercial Failure

Conner’s second solo album, CONNquest, is met with scathing reviews and poor sales, signaling the beginning of his downfall. His attempts to promote the album through bizarre marketing schemes and outlandish stunts only exacerbate the situation. The mockumentary format allows for comedic commentary on the absurdity of celebrity culture and the fickle nature of public opinion. Key events include the disastrous Aquaspin product integration and the wardrobe malfunction during a live performance.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Conner (Andy Samberg): A self-absorbed pop star whose career spirals downward after his second solo album flops, leading him to re-evaluate his relationships.
• Owen (Jorma Taccone): Conner’s loyal but often overlooked DJ and childhood friend, who yearns for the camaraderie of their former group.
• Lawrence (Akiva Schaffer): The former songwriter of the Style Boyz, now a reclusive farmer, who resents Conner for taking credit for his work.
• Paula (Sarah Silverman): Conner’s pragmatic publicist who attempts to manage his image and career with a dose of reality.
• Harry (Tim Meadows): Conner’s long-suffering manager who tries to keep his client’s career afloat despite his increasingly outlandish antics.
• Hunter (Chris Redd): An up-and-coming rapper who is initially a fan of Conner’s but later becomes a rival, highlighting the fleeting nature of fame.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Conner: “I’m so humble.” – The opening line of Conner’s most famous song, showcasing his complete lack of self-awareness.
• Harry: “Conner, don’t worry about it. You were up there for, like, ten seconds.” – Harry attempts to console Conner after a disastrous wardrobe malfunction on stage.
• Conner: “Ten seconds is an eternity, Harry. It’s a third of the way to Mars.” – Conner exaggerates the length of the incident to emphasize its impact.
• Harry: “Conner, we’ve talked about this. Thirty Seconds to Mars is the name of a band. It’s not a fact.” – Harry corrects Conner’s factual inaccuracy, highlighting Conner’s ignorance.
• Conner: “That’s my Bil Laden song!” – Conner announces the song, setting up the absurdity of the lyrics about sex and the killing of Bin Laden.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $20,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $9,639,125
• Worldwide Gross: $9,680,029

💥 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved Popstar. As a long time Lonely Island fan, their humour in the movie really hit home for me. The songs are ridiculous, catchy, and the cameos felt perfectly over-the-top. There are jokes crammed into every scene so its easy to rewatch to catch anything I missed. Conner’s journey from a mega-star to a bit of a has-been, and eventually rediscovering himself and his friends, was surprisingly heartwarming amid the chaos. I laughed so hard I cried during the wolf attack scene, and ‘I’m So Humble’ is a modern comedy classic. The film takes a comedic perspective on a number of musical stars but feels more inspired by Justin Bieber and his ‘Never Say Never’ documentary. I’m a fan of celebrity documentaries, and this film really twists what those films are like into a more comedic format. It’s a must-watch for any fan of The Lonely Island or anyone who appreciates a good, silly, and smart comedy.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of The Lonely Island”
  • “Viewers who enjoy mockumentaries”
  • “Those interested in satire of pop culture and the music industry”
  • “Adults with a sense of humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Drug references”
  • “Partial nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Rolling Stone: “A wildly uneven but ultimately hilarious mockumentary that skewers the music industry with gleeful abandon. Samberg shines as the clueless Conner, and the cameos are consistently inspired.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Popstar delivers consistent laughs, although the narrative is pretty simple, its an engaging watch if you love satire comedy. A fun spoof on the absurdities of modern celebrity.
• Variety: “The Lonely Island’s brand of humor is on full display in this outrageous and irreverent comedy. Some jokes will land, some will not, but the sheer volume of gags ensures a consistently entertaining experience.

Audience Reactions

The sheer number of celebrity cameos and the willingness of stars to make fun of themselves.: The mockumentary style and the original songs written for the film really enhance the comedic effect.

The film is hilarious and a clever satire of modern pop culture.: Many agree that it’s similar to ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ in its approach and a cult classic due to its unique style and humor.

Overall Consensus: A funny and clever satire of the music industry, appreciated for its absurd humor, catchy songs, and celebrity cameos.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Many of the celebrity cameos were filmed with the celebrities improvising their lines, adding to the mockumentary feel.”
• “The film’s songs were written well in advance of filming, allowing the cast to fully integrate them into the narrative and comedic moments.”
• “Footage from One Direction concerts was used for shots of the large crowds at Conner4Real’s shows, creating a sense of scale.”

🖥️ How to Watch Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping?

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local cable provider for on-demand options as well. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also available for purchase from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, you might like these similar films:

• This Is Spinal Tap (1984): Pioneering mockumentary about a fictional rock band, establishing the genre’s conventions.
• Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007): Spoofs the biopic genre with exaggerated events and musical parodies, similar to Popstar’s approach to pop stardom.
• Get Him to the Greek (2010): Features a musician struggling with fame and public perception, with comedic situations arising from the music industry.
• Hot Rod (2007): Another Lonely Island production with similar comedic style and sensibilities.

🛒 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Related Products

• Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping [Blu-ray]: The Blu-ray edition includes behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, and extended versions of the hilarious songs. A must-have for fans who want to relive the laughs and dive deeper into the making of the film.
• The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain [CD]: Features many of the songs from the movie, including ‘I’m So Humble’ and ‘Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)’. Enjoy the original soundtrack and other Lonely Island hits.
• Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – Conner4Real T-Shirt: Show your love for Conner4Real with this exclusive T-shirt featuring his iconic image. High-quality and comfortable, it’s perfect for everyday wear.
• Poster – Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016): A high-quality reproduction poster of the original movie artwork. Perfect to display in bedrooms, theaters, studios, etc. The poster creates the ambiance to be immersed in the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “I’m So Humble” – performed by The Lonely Island ft. Adam Levine
• “Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)” – performed by The Lonely Island
• “Equal Rights” – performed by The Lonely Island ft. P!nk
• “Incredible Thoughts” – performed by The Style Boyz ft. Michael Bolton

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Lonely Island – Equal Rights [FULL] (Deleted scene from Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping)

Remember that hilarious ‘Equal Rights’ song from the movie? This is the FULL deleted scene with Pink! Seriously, it’s even funnier than what made it into the final cut – you have to see it.

Popstar: The Lonely Island on Why the Bieber-Centric Marketing Wasn’t Their Favorite (EXCLUSIVE)

Ever wonder what The Lonely Island *really* thought about how their movie was marketed? This exclusive interview spills the tea – apparently, they weren’t thrilled! Definitely worth a watch to get their side of the story.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – Movie Review

Want to know if ‘Popstar’ is *actually* good? Check out Chris Stuckmann’s review! He gives a pretty fair and balanced take, so you can decide if it’s your kind of humor.

✨ Rate