Director: Morgan Spurlock.
Starring: Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Simon Cowell.
Running Time: 92 minutes.
Certificate: PG.
Synopsis: A look at Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry’s meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena.
The biggest boy band in the world right now, One Direction, are selling out world tours like it’s their local dive bar with a capacity of thirty. The latest entry into their world domination story is the release of their first feature film, ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US. Directed by Morgan Spurlock and produced by Simon Cowell, the film cuts footage of their sell out world tour alongside the boys explaining how grateful and normal, and what all round good eggs they happen to be, despite their catapult rise into the starlight.
The One Direction fans, the ‘Directioners’, as they dub themselves, are a huge part of how success came quite so quickly for the band and the movie assumes the role of being their thank you gift – and there’s plenty of shirtless scenes to gawp at. We see countless clips of fans in emotional states ranging from ecstatic and rapturous to near breakdown territory as they queue up to get a glimpse of their idols at an airport, at the shops, outside their hotels or at concert venues. Being an ode to the fans, the boys are quick to point out they’re not crazy, oh no. In fact, we are treated to a neuroscientist explaining that when fans hear the One Direction music, a chemical called dopamine is released which makes them experience the symptoms of excitement. Excitement guys, you hear that? They’re definitely not crazy.
Morgan Spurlock’s previous films, SUPER SIZE ME and THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD, were applauded for their satire and criticism. Spurlock certainly didn’t shy away from going up against fast food juggernaut McDonalds when he ate solely from their menu for thirty days and told that to continue would be eating himself into an early grave. For this movie, however, Spurlock has done a complete 180. Gone are any possible avenues that could explore a cynical or darker side to the industry, and what remains is a 90 minute bleat about a boy band who came third on a reality TV show and whom Simon Cowell maneuvered into pop history.
It’s nice to see a couple of sincere moments in the boys’ lives, namely the consequences of fame on their families. They buy cardboard cut outs of their sons, pick their favourite hairstyles from the images boomed at us from magazines and sit in awe at Madison Square Gardens at sold out shows. One father even goes so far as to say that the only things he could have offered his child – boozing and snooker – were taken from him when his son left home aged sixteen to audition for The X-Factor. Lost on the troop of pre-teens who will doubtless flock to the movie, this was perhaps the one hint at what has been lost on this crazy journey; the milestones of growing up. Of course, the band are busy setting their own milestones being the first British group in US history to enter the chart at #1 with their debut album.
It won’t last forever, but One Direction probably have a couple of years to enjoy this success and the film shows us enjoying the success they are – but they are still very grounded, don’t forget how normal they are. With plenty of footage of both the tour and what goes on backstage, the Directioners will enjoy this movie even if there are no surprises or revelations. ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US is a harmless and semi-enjoyable venture for the unstoppable money-making machine that is One Direction.
ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US is released in UK cinemas today.
