Justin Bieber Never Say Never (2011)
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Written by Documentary
Starring Justin Bieber, Scooter Braun, Usher
Release Date February 11th, 2011
Published February 12th, 2011
One must maintain an armor of pure cynicism in order to resist the charm of young Justin Bieber. I will admit my armor was not as strong as I thought. No, I do not have what the kids call 'Bieber Fever' nor would I truly consider myself a 'Bieber-liever' or 'Bieb-liever' or whatever the proper fan slang is. But, I must admit that while experiencing “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” I couldn't help but appreciate the showmanship and pure raw talent of this young phenom.
”Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” has been billed as a bio-documentary and while that is something of a fair description it also incorrectly casts a egotistical light on what is really just a movie that captures a phenomenon that happens to be settled around one singular, 16 year old kid. Bieber may have an ego but “Never Say Never” is not a tribute to his ego but a demonstration of how much he has earned a little ego stroke.
Justin Bieber in an astonishing 4 years has grown from Youtube sensation to worldwide superstar and “Never Say Never” captures this period with clever allusions to--in a clever opening montage--and actual footage of young Bieber interspersed between performances from the 'My World' tour culminating in the crowning achievement for any superstar, a sold out show at Madison Square Garden.
Throughout “Never Say Never” we meet Justin's family, mom Pattie is a sweet, shy woman who appears early on and recedes to the background though always a quiet presence. Dad, Jeremy Bieber is a minor presence, joining the tour for a show in Toronto and raising questions, mostly unanswered, about how often he had seen his little boy before he became a star. Justin's beloved grandparents provide a good deal of emotion with their big wide grins, bear hugs and pride bursting from every pore.
The most prominent people in Justin's life are a crew of friendly, dedicated professionals who make up Team Justin. Lead by Manager Scooter Braun, Team Justin, as portrayed in “Never Say Never,” are warm and vigilant crew who go out of their way to make sure Justin is both superstar and teenage boy. The lesson of Michael Jackson looms large over Justin Bieber and Braun shares in interviews a direct allusion to Jackson's lament about losing his childhood.
What mostly can be taken away from “Never Say Never” is the sense of a kid with a great deal of natural talent. Justin Bieber picked up the drums at age 2. Justin was soon playing guitar and then singing; which he did on street corners and then on Youtube. He then made the big time without Disney or Nickelodeon to push him to the top.
Usher certainly helped but mostly it was Bieber who is an astonishing natural mimic who soaks up what he hears and regurgitates it with astonishing new life and vitality. Bieber's songs are definitely those of a 16 year old boy with all the lyrical complexity that implies but he is an extraordinarily self possessed young man with a great big heart that may be the key to his appeal. Justin Bieber wears his heart on his sleeve and his fans love him for it.
So, for the cynics out there, I urge you to see “Never Say Never” and remain so cynical. You likely won't come down with 'Bieber Fever' but you will come to understand why the kid is a phenomenon and one that is really not so bad. For all the joy the kid inspires in little girls can the growing Bieber cult really be all that bad?
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