Sometime ago, I pulled a prank on a friend. For the sake of possible repetition, I won’t detail the prank or friend, but I guess he cleaned up the mess and got over it because earlier this week he told me about a sneak-peek preview of Justin Bieber bio-pic/concert documentary/whatever else. Knowing really nothing about Justin Bieber other than he’s some kind of musician who doesn’t really play instruments, I decided to take up the opportunity to see what could be the third biggest film of next week, or maybe even the year. And I have to admit, some 80 minutes later, I was thoroughly impressed.
First off, the film isn’t about Justin Bieber himself much at all. Now, I missed the first few minutes because the beers at the concession stand were only $2 (Thursday special!) but from what I gathered, the film actually follows two Justin Beiber fans in Texas over the course of a few years. Defying expectations, the fans are not little girls but actually two grown men, Steven Russell and Phillip Morris (played by Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, respectively).
Russell (Carrey) is a normal-ish who suffers a near-death/life experience and comes out of the Justin Beiber closet. His wife takes it in seemingly good humor and Russell goes about being a Justin Bieber fans, presumably going to concerts, but more often just hanging out with other fans. I guess this Justin Bieber is the most talented teenager in America because he sure seemed to have a lot of fans in the movie. Anyhow, Russell and Phillip meet in prison because they tried impersonating people or whatever. In prison and after prison, their relationship really grows. They dance and dress well but never seem to meet any girls; I guess because they just like Justin Bieber too much.
For real, the movie has a nice jig to it, editing-wise, and bounds along with a comedic pace that suits Carrey. Regrettably, McGregor is something of the “straight man” in their comedic-duo. McGregor can sell a joke better than about any other Star Wars alumni, but, alas, he’s only here to react to Carrey’s shenanigans—and boy is there shenanigans. Escaping-from-prison level of shenanigans. Actually, that’s exactly what happens. I guess the love the two fellows share for Justin Bieber’s music keeps them going and is the genesis of the title “Never Say Never”—because nothing can keep fans away from music or each other's camaraderie. Except for maybe the Hell’s Angels.*
Pictured above: Reason #583 for how Rolling Stones concerts are different than Bieber's.
For the first third of the movie or so, I was skeptical about how wacky Russell and Morris acted—and, like other characters, wondered if their love for Justin Bieber was related to their criminal activities. These fears dissipated over time though, as the relationship between the fans proved earnest and visceral. Yes, these are flamboyant characters, but their love is given as much patience, drama, weight and, yes even, comedy as any other relationship in a 2010 film.
As already mentioned, Carrey and McGregor are solid, despite (or because?) they are given a near impossible task. The film is mostly played somewhat farcical (again, ‘beat’ editing), yet the dramatic moments are left rather raw. Some might read into this dichotomy of styles as heavy-handed moments sneaking into a comedy film, but these misses the celebration of life that the film begins and ends on. Indeed, the film is based on a true story—meaning I guess Russell and Phillip Morris are real fans somewhere—and so the film valiantly tries to grasp the absurdity, horror and pain of life. Life has no genre, and so one can ‘never say never.’
The theater for this sneak peek was conspicuously empty and completely devoid of any pre, regular, or post-teenage girls. After watching the film, though, I wasn’t all that surprised, as the movie’s soundtrack was nothing like the teenybopper music I feared. Never having heard any Justin Bieber song, I can’t really say what the names of the songs were but none were distracting, and many played within the scenes very well.
The film is sugary, to be sure--caffeinated even--but there is enough texture to not feel guilty watching the romp. I heard some critics praised the actors’ courage, but to say Carrey was bravely flamboyant is like saying Daniel Day Lewis was bravely intimidating. I mean, please. He’s a goofy guy but it doesn’t mean he has to be a cartoon character. Regardless, Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” was a fun flick made special by the loving, albeit comically unequal, performances by Carrey and McGregor. Beiber himself also warrants praise for remaining strangely, yet powerfully, understated in what I was sure would be a bloated, hallow, cash-grab on commercial regurgitation spewed by the laziest day-dreamers who vaguely recall the existence of “Yellow Submarine” and, more prominently, an uber-capitalist desire to stagnant emotional development to a lowest common, monetary, denominator.
*The Hells Angels were hired to provide security for the free rock concert. Amazingly, fights broke out, a gang member stabbed an attendee, Mick Jagger was punched in the face, a member of Jefferson Airplane was beaten unconscious and The Grateful Dead (disregarding their band name) fled in a helicopter before playing a single song. Lame.
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