Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review

16 year old Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber already has millions of passionately devoted fans around the world and now he has his very own movie too. Interspersing flashy 3D concert footage from his 2010 American tour with home movies and backstage interviews; the film charts his dizzying rise from YouTube phenomenon to global megastar in just a couple of years.

For anyone unfamiliar with the charms of Justin Bieber, the film offers a handy guide to how he’s managed to permeate the hearts of half the planet’s teenagers and almost every aspect of pop culture. Although as a documentary the film could be accused of pulling its punches. The film favours a simple life story narrative over any kind of detailed exploration of the issues surrounding pubescent superstardom.

The film casually reassures us that Justin is just a normal kid but it largely ignores the obvious questions of how untold wealth, public adoration and pressure affect a child. Hardcore ‘Beliebers’ will be predictably ecstatic to see their hero celebrated, but less lovelorn viewers may find themselves yearning for a little more critical probing.

Those with a natural inclination for despising Justin Bieber and the tween-pop music industry he represents will be left disappointed in their search for ammunition to attack him with. There’s no evidence he’s the obnoxious brat many would presuppose and he’s certainly not talentless. The film offers lots of compelling home movie evidence of his astonishing musical gifts. That fact alone may be enough to dispel some of the scepticism and hate that has inevitably followed Bieber’s unparalleled success.

At times the film is hilarious, thanks to the frenzied ramblings of teenage girls hopelessly afflicted with the infamous “Bieber Fever”. Whether they’re professing an earnest intention to marry him or just exploding into joyous tears at his mere presence, their unrestrained hysteria is deeply endearing and amusing. A glorious slow motion celebration of Justin’s boyish hair tossing is a more deliberately irreverent moment in a film that carefully avoids ever taking itself too seriously.

The film is proud to deliver a positive message of self belief that insists kids can do anything and should never give up on their dreams. It might be a clichéd and heavy-handed moral, but it’s still a good attitude to expose young minds to.

The merits of 3D technology remain up for debate, but it’s a perfect fit for capturing the fast paced kinetic wonders of a live concert. Thrown up onto the giant screen, the diminutive pop idol literally reaches into the audience to grab us by the hand, thus fulfilling the deepest wishes of countless young girls in darkened cinemas.

While the film is unashamedly made for dedicated fans, its likeable enthusiasm and cute comedy should win over most reluctant viewers. You won’t necessarily come out of the cinema utterly in love with Justin Bieber, but you’ll certainly find it harder to dislike him. You also really don’t need to have the musical tastes of a 13 year old girl to enjoy this film, although it probably wouldn’t hurt...