There were signs in the previews that One Direction: This is Us would be a more tolerable production than one would expect from a boy band documentary. Directed by big name filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock, the film follows current “it” band One Direction on their world tour with live concert footage and all the behind the scenes interviews you could possibly want to see. Spurlock does well to present the film with humor in the forefront, which makes it entertaining even for those who aren’t singing along to the songs. But I’m not going to pretend my toe wasn’t tapping along.
Similar to recent theatrical releases about Justin Beiber and Katy Perry, the film doesn’t go deep enough to present too much drama or conflict. Instead the most authentic moments come from the parents of the band members who are all on the verge of tears at the mere mentioning of their sons. It’s tough to feel sympathy for millionaires who found fame in their teens, but the being away from home theme provides an emotional aspect that allows the film to stay grounded.
What isn’t so grounded is the thousands upon thousands of screaming girls that follow the band wherever they go. This phenomenon pops up a bit too often on screen in fact. The screeching is repetitive and grating, but it also explains the cockiness and over-confidence the band members often employ. Beyond the fly on the wall look at the group, the main story arc is a bit muddled. It just goes city to city and there is never really a sense of closure beyond the final song in the concert. Is the tour over? Did the film crew’s all access pass run out? We don’t really know. All in all, One Direction: This is Us is a fun, straightforward documentary. Fans of the group and the target demographic will obviously enjoy it more, but for everyone else, it’s not so bad.
Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.
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