'Justin Bieber: Our World’ Review: Lack of emotions make documentary a dry watch
Justin Bieber is one of the biggest pop stars the world has ever seen and his stardom is only growing exponentially. The singer, who has delivered a plethora of hits and won numerous accolades, has time and again kept his fans updated with his life -- personal or professional, with the help of documentaries. While the fans loved Canadian megastar’s 2011 documentary ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ and its sequel Justin Bieber’s ‘Believe’ in 2013 and even 2020's ‘Justin Bieber: Seasons’, the singer-songwriter is now back again with a new concert film called 'Justin Bieber: Our World’.
The brand new documentary has been helmed by Michael D Ratner who had also executively produced Bieber’s 2020 YouTube Originals docuseries ‘Justin Bieber: Seasons’ and its follow-up ‘Next Chapter’. The new concert film sheds light on Bieber making his comeback to the stage after a gap of three years -- that too in the middle of the pandemic. The new documentary on Bieber takes fans behind the scenes of the concert and tries to show how they pulled off the New Year’s Eve show in 2020 on the rooftop of the hotel Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
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‘Justin Bieber: Our World’ is a full-fledged concert film where the majority of the footage takes the singer’s performance into the spotlight. Fans get to see Bieber rehearsing backstage on and off throughout the film. However, the highlights of the concert film are indeed the performances but the issue here is they are quite long and seems to get boring at one point. Makers could have easily edited out a few portions. The New Year’s Eve concert at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles was his first after he canceled the last 14 dates of his ‘Purpose’ World Tour in 2017 in order to protect his mental health.
The new film shows how Bieber is willing to hit the stage despite the pandemic as he makes sure the safety protocols are in place. The concert that was live-streamed around the world in 150 countries also saw a few people in attendance including Bieber’s wife Hailey. During the full-fledged concert, the 27-year-old crooner performs his hit singles like ‘Yummy’, ‘Boyfriend’, ‘Baby’, ‘Love Yourself’, and a few other of his classics.
The backstage drama
Apart from the concert footage, fans also get to enjoy the backstage drama. We see Justin Bieber all over the place including his vanity van, backstage, and on stage as he gears up for his comeback after three years. The documentary includes choreographer and Bieber’s good friend Nick DeMoura, who labels the 'COVID-19 pandemic' as an antagonist. The show was curated by Chris Gratton who is shown facing challenges while planning the show. We see Bieber’s team making all efforts to make sure nothing goes wrong. One of the crew members, however, still gets tested positive 21 days before the concert. Other issues like unexpected rain and thunder just a few days before the show and a delay in kickstarting the gig because the streaming site gets crashed keeps everyone on toes.
Speaking about connecting with his fans, the multiple award-winning singer in an official statement said, “Performing live and connecting with my fans through music is deeply meaningful to me. Especially during the past year, being able to provide a service and share my gifts to bring some happiness to people during such a sad and scary time has meant the world to me.” He added, “This film documents an intense and exciting time, preparing for a return to the stage during this season of real uncertainty. Coming together with my team, overcoming the obstacles, and delivering a special show, surrounded by friends and family; it’s all here.”
Justin Bieber takes it to vlogging
While fans take on the journey of the backstage drama, the documentary also shows Justin Bieber’s emotional side. This is probably the most humane part of the entire concert film where the makers tried to show Bieber as a family man and how he has evolved emotionally. The 94-minute film opens with Justin Bieber waking up and grabbing the phone in order to vlog. Yes, this is the first time when the singer is seen vlogging like influencers.
Bieber is seen spending time with his cousins and hanging out with Hailey. We would have loved if makers had given more screen time to Hailey. Bieber is seen taking over the camera while he jokes about his arm getting sore from holding the phone. The moments between Justin and Hailey last only a few minutes. The couple also drops a hint about trying for a baby by this year-end. In a nutshell, ‘Justin Bieber: Our World’ is a full-fledged concert film that lacks emotion. It is best for casual viewing as nothing really comes out of it in the end.
