The Lonely Island’s love of popular hip-hop is what made them SNL stars—“Lazy Sunday” and “Dick in a Box” endure—so it makes sense the trio’s first film would be a music-industry mockumentary. Ever-affable Andy Samberg stars as Conner4REAL, a Bieber-esque sensation on a downward spiral. Island mates Jorma Taccone and Akiva Shaffer play his onscreen bandmates and direct the film, a loose and loving 90 minutes of talking heads, pop-star shenanigans, Macklemore-ribbing parody songs and an outstanding Mariah Carey cameo. Recommended for lovers of contemporary culture, and joy.
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2016.