Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Director: Jon M. Chu

Starring: Justin Bieber, Scooter Braun, Pattie Mallette

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Length: 1 hour 45 minutes

3D Movies and Justin Bieber. Two money-grabbing growing trends that now combine to create Justin Beiber: Never Say Never. Now what kind of movie can you really make about a 16 year old pop star? A documentary? A concert film? A complete catastrophe is what most people who aren’t 12-year-old girls were thinking. Director Jon M. Chu of Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D surprises us all with a creative combination of different kinds of film that makes for an intriguing 3D movie. The film opens with a computer showing different popular videos on Youtube, one with a panda sneezing, one with a bride and priest falling into a pool, and one with a talented 13-year-old kid singing. This sets the smart tone for what looked like a pretty vapid movie. Chu divides the film into different sections all relating to Beiber. The film focuses on many different aspects of his life including Bieber’s childhood, his fans, the music industry, the impact of social networking, his tour family and the makings of a concert. The main focus of the film though are the days leading up to Justin’s concert at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. For anyone who doesn’t know much about J.Biebs or even the anti-Bieber fans, it’s interesting to discover that when he says he never expected any of this to happen to him, he truly means it. After Justin’s relatives couldn’t attend one of his singing competitions in Stratford, he posted a video of it on Youtube for them to watch. When the video received insane popularity he produced more and more videos of him singing because clearly people liked it. Justin Beiber isn’t unmotivated or weak-minded, but he didn’t end up where he is today because of himself. It happened from the determination of his producer Scooter Braun. His story is far more interesting. Upon seeing one of Justin’s many videos, he flew Justin and his Mom, Pattie down to Atlanta where he talked to them about signing a record contract for Justin. The audience learns that Braun tried almost every label in the U.S. and they all said “He’s too young”, “Wait a few years” or “Try Disney”. Braun’s belief in Beiber as an artist and his perseverance is something no one knew about before viewing this film. Through Beiber’s growth in popularity, Chu uncovers knowledge of how important social networking sites like twitter can be for the development of an artist. Chu manages to gain all of our intrigue with new information on every relevant topic while still making this a bit of a concert film. Chu obviously uses 3D to his advantage (like in Step Up 3D) and visually entrances the audience into Bieber’s full-out entertaining dance routines that make us feel a part of those exciting crazy concerts. Jon M. Chu also brings us into the close family relationships of Justin, Scooter Braun, his mom and everyone else. Using insightful interviews, adorable home footage, intense concert filming and regular footage of who Justin is today, Chu creates a completely unique kind of movie that may be the best feel good film of the year. Even if you have no interest in Justin Beiber whatsoever, you’ll find yourself shocked at how fascinated and charmed you are by this funny, interesting and real film. There is something in Justin Beiber: Never Say Never for everyone, guaranteed.