Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

"Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" stars Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, and Sarah Silverman.  Released on June 3, 2016, the film is about a rapper who faces a crisis when his latest album flops.

The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, the members of The Lonely Island, and produced by Judd Apatow.  I think the first time I have heard of The Lonely Island was from listening to their single "I'm on a Boat" a few years ago, and let's just say the language in that song was…pretty aggressive.  After that, I lost track of the comedy/music trio until I heard that they're making a music mockumentary film.  Now, this isn't the first film that The Lonely Island was involved in.  They also directed, produced, wrote, and starred in the 2007 comedy, Hot Rod, which makes their latest film, "Popstar", their second film in nine years.  I got a chance to see it right away after spending a few days in Los Angeles with my sister because like the main character's sophomore album, it's not selling well for audiences despite its positive reception.  That's pretty much a downer because I thought it was quite good.

Pros:
The performances were respectable, including Andy Samberg as Conner4Real.

The humor was good, but not hysterical.

The songs from The Lonely Island were pretty catchy and enjoyable.

The mockumentary style was entertaining.

Supportive themes about friendship.

Cons:
Cliched storyline.

Some of the jokes can be offensive or mean at times.

Final thoughts: The Lonely Island's latest feature, "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping", is not for the easily offended, but with its amount of laughs and a toe-tapping soundtrack, it has enough star power to rise up to the top.  I wouldn't say it's the best comedy of the summer, but for the most part, it serves as a sweet, yet raunchy, appetizer before the main course.  If you're somewhat of a fan of The Lonely Island and/or are in a mood for some adult comedy, try giving this one a shot.    

B