Review of One Direction: This Is Us (2013) by Thegodfatherson — 29 Aug 2013

There are moments of clear absurdity when the group of guys crafted on a Simon Cowell talent show insist that they can always just be themselves, for instance and the film does lay on the “wacky kids” and “our fans are so important” gloss with marketing-ploy thickness.

But there are moments of screwy honesty a couple chats with obviously heartsick parents stick out as counterpoints to the celebration and the actual concert moments are both better entwined and more explosively captured than anything of this popdoc ilk has so far managed (looking at you, Bieber and Perry).

In short, there is nothing you wouldn’t expect, but at least it’s all done with flair. And it’s not like it’s made for anyone but the teenage girls who saw the concert the first time through anyway.