However, anyone expecting a provocative analytical breakdown of the One Direction phenomenon would be well-advised to give this movie a miss. For the most part, Spurlock disappears dutifully behind the camera it becomes clear very quickly that he has absolutely no interest in exposing anything tawdry or scandalous in the film. He uses his full behind-the-scenes access to the five boys in the band Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson to celebrate rather than to undermine them. It all fits very well with their public image: five ordinary, cheeky lads making up one extraordinary band, helping one another stay grounded in the onslaught of unexpectedly enormous fame.
Needless to say, people who have already imbibed the One Direction Kool-Aid will find much to enjoy in Spurlock`s film. There`s plenty of footage of the band members in action, whether they`re bouncing around the stage or just generally goofing off. It covers their journey from taking part as solo performers in the UK`s X-Factor to singing for a stadium of 65,000 people in reasonably amusing fashion. This Is Us also plays about with 3D in quite a refreshing way, popping lyrics out at the audience and in one song briefly transforming each member of the band into a superhero.
For the uninitiated and/or uninterested, what keeps the film from degenerating completely into a by-the-numbers pop-rock-doc are the boys themselves. Whitewashed through they might be, every single one of the quintet seems sweet, down-to-earth and immensely grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Their kooky charm keeps even the more awkwardly scripted moments in the film (Zayn presenting his mom with an enormous gift, a fireside chat in the forest) watchable, and only the most churlish of viewers could remain unamused by the good-natured pranks the boys play not just on one another, but also on their unwitting audience members.
When the credits roll (and they are inordinately amusing credits), This Is Us has told a story of what is essentially a fan-made phenomenon ultimately, One Direction won no singing competitions, but has achieved success on an unprecedented, jaw-dropping scale that has eluded those who have. It will please their legions of fans and possibly gain them more supporters, though it`s a bit too cookie-cutter safe to really win over the utterly disenchanted.
Summary: The film turns out pretty one-directional in the end, but it`s still charming in an inoffensive way.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Shawne Wang