Andy Samberg has his own comedy vehicle with “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”

Depending on what you’ve seen him in, you might have a number of different takes on Andy Samberg. You could know him from his run on Saturday Night Live, his television show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a handful of supporting roles in films, or his highest profile turn in Celeste and Jesse Forever. There’s also his musical work with The Lonely Island, which combines with his comedic movie work this week to mark the release of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, his attempt at a real comedy hit. It appears to be something a little on the unique side, so there’s a chance that Samberg is about to break through in a big way. The film is a look at fictional superstar Conner4Real (Samberg), who was once a member of the pop/rap group The Style Boyz. When his solo career goes up in flames, Conner4Real is game to try anything in order to maintain the high life he’s grown accustomed to, as long as it doesn’t involve also reuniting with the group. Hilarity ensues. Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone co-write (along with Samberg) as well as co-direct here (while also taking on supporting roles too), while the cast on hand includes Imogen Poots, as well as the likes of Will Arnett, Joan Cusack, Will Forte, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Martin Sheen, Sarah Silverman, and many more, including a whole host of celebrity cameos. I see it later today, but this is another comedy produced by Judd Apatow, who normally knows how to get the best out of people, so that’s a reason I’m looking forward to this one. He’s expanded out from the films he’s written or directed in order to produce some very strong works like Begin Again, Bridesmaids, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, and more. Apatow is one of the more underrated producers in Hollywood, especially when it comes to comedy. but he’s got more to him than that. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping certainly is in his humorous wheelhouse, but it’s also not his first musically tinged outing. For my money, Samberg really has shined brightest in the romantic dramedy Celeste and Jesse Forever. He co-starred there with Rashida Jones (who also co-wrote the movie) and made a fantastically believable pair. That film tackled the issue of a long term couple transitioning to friends, specifically when a married couple is going through a separation and then a divorce. Samberg is brilliant as [...]