This Friday night, my six-year-old daughter and I got to attend a special preview of the authorized band documentary about ONE DIRECTION. Both of us were interested, but no where near as passionate as the thousands of ONE DIRECTION fans that had camped out the night before to see the band play in Rockefeller Plaza for The TODAY Show concert series.
But the movie was so much fun that I can now say we are both fans.
One Direction: This is Us does a good job of telling how the five band members, Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis, found fame on X-Factor and follows them as they tour around the world and get a short break to return to their hometowns. The 3D movie really gives you the feel of being in a great seat at one of the many packed arenas they play in NYC, Japan and Mexico City to name just a few.
Oddly enough, the movie is directed by Morgan Spurlock of “Super Size Me” fame. I sort of made the assumption that he was a Michael Moore-type of guy that would consider a movie like this a bit too establishment, and not newsworthy enough. But he did a good job. It did feel to me (coming from a public relations background) that there was a lot of input from the band’s advertisers and managers. It was a good fan movie, and since it seems like most of their fans are younger girls, it was okay that their was almost no cursing (I think ass was mentioned twice, but with an Irish accent it almost doesn’t sound like a swear word), drugs, alcohol or sex.
The movie gives fans a behind-the-scenes views of how the five band mates kid around with each other and all their co-workers. There were practical jokes, riding of skate boards around concert arenas and some dress-up candid camera-like segments.
My daughter really enjoyed the scenes which showed fans picked out of audiences to be surprised by their favorite band members. She even says she wants to see it again.
– That’s IT Mom Jill
* Jill was provided with tickets to the special previewing of the movie.
