Movie Review: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never – A Paramount Pictures’ Release

http://www.justinbieberneversaynever.com/

Release Date: February 11th

Rated G

Running time: 105 minutes

Jon M. Chu (dir.)

Deborah Lurie (music)

Featuring appearances by:

Justin Bieber as Himself

Scotter Braun as Himself

Patti Mallette as Himself

Mama Jan Smith as Herself

Usher Raymond as Himself

L.A. Reid as Himself

Boys II Men as Themselves

Miley Cyrus as Herself

Jaden Smith as Himself

Jeremy Bieber as Himself

Justin Bieber in Never Say Never.

Our reviews below:

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

I’m clearly not the demographic that made Justin Bieber a star in the first place, but the teenaged pop sensation is everywhere at the moment and now he’s even got a movie to call his own. Never Say Never is the calculated but ultimately inspirational documentary that shows us how the 16-year-old came from relative obscurity in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario and went on to sell out Madison Square Garden in 22-minutes.

Following him over the ten days he has to prepare for playing the legendary stadium, we see his childhood through the compulsive amount of home movies shot by his single mother, Pattie Mallette. We also get interviews with other members of his family and crew, illustrating how Bieber rose to fame with a little help from YouTube and talent scout Scooter Braun, and not relying on the “machine” that created other teen pop stars.

Directed by Jon Chu of the Step Up series, the film is nicely shot and well-edited into a usually entertaining feature film. The crystal clear 3D is used flawlessly in the concert sequences and will be a nice bonus for audience members that can’t get tickets to a live show, but is barely noticeable during the interviews and numerous home videos.

On the downside, the movie feels a touch long at 105 minutes and features a few too many interviews with his sometimes obsessed fans. Certain parts of the documentary also feel more calculated than others, and a little more depth into his back story would have been welcome.

But pretty much the only reason for audiences to see the documentary is Justin Bieber himself. Since his childhood, the pop star has been undeniably talented and the film does a good job of making his performances appealing even to those of us who don’t own all of his albums. He also makes for a natural screen presence, appearing more like an average teenager than you might expect.

Never Say Never will inevitably prove a memorable theatre experience for serious Justin Bieber fans, but the inspirational story and impressive performances are entertaining even for those of us that don’t have a severe case of Bieber Fever.

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

A few years ago, no one really knew who Justin Bieber was – now, he has become a household name the world over. There is no doubt – Justin Bieber has become ingrained as a pop-culture phenomenon. On one level, you get the appeal – the sheer fact that he came from a small town starts it all, it’s a classic rags to riches story. But there are so many talents out there – why him and not someone else?

You could attribute this to many possible elements – the internet, hard work, his looks, sheer luck at discovery, and of course, raw talent. But for many outside of the direct fanbase age range, the full scope of the hype might not be totally understood – and that’s what I found interesting about this film. It will do it’s job of retelling his story to his millions of fans out there, as well as enlighten those of us who are a bit more out of the loop.

Never Say Never is definitely not a tour de force of filmmaking, but for what it is, it’s well done. A little long I found at 1 hour, 45 minutes, but entertaining enough to keep you going. Plus, the concert stuff is well done, meaning that for those that can’t actually get out to one of Justin Bieber’s concerts, they can see the next best thing – his performance up on the big screen with cinema sound.

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Never Say Never shows a glimpse into the life of Canada’s most famous child prodigy, 16-year-old Justin Bieber. Born to a single teenage mother, Bieber showed talent and a sense of rhythm at a surprisingly young age. He was quickly discovered online by American talent agent Scooter Braun, who helped Bieber get known worldwide.

Never Say Never shows that, under the right circumstances, talented people can come from anywhere. I found the most interesting aspects of the documentary were the home videos of Bieber as a child, the interviews with the adults in Bieber’s life, the concert footage, and the preparations for his concerts.

One may wonder if Bieber, at only 16, is sometimes too ambitious, stubbornly refusing to cancel concerts even when suffering a throat infection in fear of disappointing his young fans. But Bieber, however, lacks the arrogance that some celebrities display. He seems, in fact to be a nice kid who wishes to inspire other children to follow their dream and pursue their talents.

One thing that impresses me about the film is the fact that Bieber openly expresses his Christian faith, praying before meals with his friends, as well as praying before each concert. In an era when religious expression is often discouraged, it is refreshing to see a young celebrity openly express his beliefs.

While Never Say Never, like most documentaries, is a bit long (there were too many interviews with screaming young fans), it is never boring. The concert footage works well in RealD 3D, and the sound quality is really good. Never Say Never is an inspiring documentary that any age can enjoy.

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Judging by all the home video footage in this documentary it’s obvious Justin Bieber has a God-given talent for music and performing. What really comes to light is how determined and driven Bieber and his management team are to succeed. Seeing the transition from videos on YouTube to a sold out concert at Madison Square Gardens is an inspiring story for people of all ages. Yes, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is an obvious marketing effort but it offers a nicely put-together package of good and clean family entertainment.

Anyone who considers themselves solid Justin Bieber fans will want to see this movie. The pictures and videos from his childhood definitely have the ‘aww’ factor, The behind the scenes of his career development is interesting and the concert footage is really good. For those fans who’ll never get to see an actual concert this really is the next best thing.

Even though the running time of 105 minutes seems a little inflated at times with too many shots of screaming fans this still feels like a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. It’s inspiring to see a 16-year-old work hard to achieve a dream.

If the movie inspires others to ‘Never Say Never’ then it’s achieved something more than just adding to Justin Bieber’s trust fund. I’m hoping the young man is succesful in the entertainment industry for years to come. Never say never.

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is a documentary that will thrill fans while giving the rest of us some admiration for his talent with some clean entertainment along the way. I must admit that until now I had dismissed Justin Bieber, who to my eyes resembled Hilary Swank from Boys Don’t Cry. However, all the buzz reminded me of the documentary Lonely Boy that I had last seen on 16 mm film in a 1960s classroom. There are some interesting comparisons to be made between the two films.

Made almost 50 years ago by the National Film Board of Canada, Lonely Boy was about Paul Anka, the precocious Canadian teen pop star of his day. Like most NFB films, I was now able to stream it for free on my iPod before going out to the new film, which is interesting in itself. In 2D black and white at 26 minutes, Lonely Boy is a quarter as long as the Bieber film, but except for childhood clips and generous concert footage of Bieber and other artists the films are remarkably similar. Both docs have gushing fans, too many in the latter case. While Anka appealed to teens and an older demographic, Bieber appeals to teens and younger kids. Both films display the consummate professionalism of the artists in gruelling backstage preparations, with support staff effusive in their praise for these gifted and nice grounded kids. Both work the crowds in similar ways, handing out complimentary tickets to a few lucky fans before each concert and inviting one lucky girl up on stage for a more personal number.

Though I found it a bit too long, Never Say Never is a good film. I wish Justin Bieber a long and successful career without burning out, just like Paul Anka.

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Consensus: Telling the inspiring story of Canada’s own Justin Bieber, Never Say Never is comprised of home movies, interviews and expertly shot 3D concert footage. Although it is a little long at 105 minutes, this is ultimately a good documentary that will entertain fans as well as those less familiar with the teenaged pop sensation. *** (Out of 4)