World News
Hurry Up, Tomorrow Review: An Astonishingly Boring Portrait of The Weeknd’s Mopey Pop Stardom
May
Hurry Up, Tomorrow arrives as a new documentary aiming to shed light on the meteoric rise and complex persona of The Weeknd, one of the most influential pop stars of the 21st century. Despite its potential, this film frustrates with an unexpectedly dull and uninspired approach to its subject. Instead of delivering the emotional depth or revealing insights that fans and critics might hope for, Hurry Up, Tomorrow comes across as a mopey, lifeless portrait that struggles to justify its existence. In this article, we’ll explore the film’s narrative approach, its depiction of The Weeknd, the production choices, audience reception, and what this means for pop star documentaries going forward.
A Slow, Uneventful Narrative That Misses the Mark
The first striking impression of Hurry Up, Tomorrow is its sluggish narrative pace and lack of engaging storytelling. Documentaries about famous musicians often benefit from dynamic editing, revealing interviews, and vivid concert footage that combine to paint a compelling picture of the artist’s life and work. Unfortunately, this film falls short on all fronts.
Rather than capturing The Weeknd’s electrifying energy or delving deeply into his creative process, the documentary seems fixated on rehashing familiar milestones without providing fresh perspectives. The editing choices make the film drag, as lengthy talking-head segments and repetitive commentary slow down the flow. Moments that should resonate emotionally or offer insight into The Weeknd’s struggles feel superficial or underexplored.
What might have been a gripping exploration of fame, artistry, and personal transformation instead becomes a tedious recounting of events. The film’s structure lacks the tension or narrative arcs that typically sustain audience interest in music documentaries. Instead, it settles for a mopey tone that undermines the vitality inherent in The Weeknd’s music and career trajectory.
The Weeknd’s Portrayal: Mopey and Uninspiring
One of the documentary’s most significant shortcomings is its depiction of The Weeknd himself. Rather than portraying a complex, compelling individual, Hurry Up, Tomorrow offers a portrait of a mopey, brooding pop star who appears detached and uninspired. This characterization neither aligns with The Weeknd’s dynamic stage presence nor his influence as an innovative artist.
While the film hints at internal struggles and the darker sides of fame, it rarely probes beyond surface-level observations. Interviews and archival footage portray The Weeknd as a somewhat passive figure — caught in the throes of celebrity without clear personal growth or emotional evolution. The lack of intimate, revealing moments leaves viewers with a sense of missed opportunity.
In contrast to other music documentaries that celebrate artistic breakthroughs or personal redemption, this film’s portrayal feels flat. The Weeknd’s vibrant, genre-defying music deserves a documentary that captures his complexity, but Hurry Up, Tomorrow chooses a more muted and unconvincing narrative, which ultimately weakens the impact.
Production Choices: Underwhelming Direction and Editing
The film’s production choices exacerbate its weaknesses. Direction by Sophia Nahli Allison aims for a meditative and introspective tone but fails to balance this with engaging storytelling. Cinematography and editing often lack creativity, relying heavily on talking heads and recycled footage rather than immersive visuals that might capture The Weeknd’s artistic world.
The soundtrack, ironically, underutilizes The Weeknd’s evocative music. When his songs do appear, they feel disconnected from the narrative, reducing opportunities to deepen emotional resonance. Instead of integrating music as a narrative device, the documentary treats it as background filler.
Interviews with friends, collaborators, and industry insiders provide some context but rarely reveal new insights or anecdotes that could enrich the story. The lack of narrative cohesion and compelling character development leads to a disjointed viewing experience.
Audience Reception and Critical Response
Since its release, Hurry Up, Tomorrow has garnered mixed to negative reviews from both fans and critics. While some viewers appreciate the quieter, contemplative tone, many criticize the film’s inability to capture the essence of The Weeknd or deliver an engaging narrative.
Critics argue that the documentary fails to live up to the high standards set by other music documentaries, such as Amy or What Happened, Miss Simone? These films succeed by blending personal vulnerability with artistic insight, a balance Hurry Up, Tomorrow does not achieve.
Fans of The Weeknd may feel disappointed by the lack of behind-the-scenes revelations or emotional depth. The documentary’s narrow focus on a somber mood, rather than exploring the full scope of the artist’s personality and career, limits its appeal.
The Future of Pop Star Documentaries: Lessons from Hurry Up, Tomorrow
The shortcomings of Hurry Up, Tomorrow highlight broader challenges facing documentaries about contemporary pop stars. In an era saturated with celebrity content, audiences demand more than just a chronological retelling of fame. They want insightful, emotionally resonant stories that capture both the artist’s creative genius and personal humanity.
To succeed, future documentaries must find a delicate balance between reverence and critical engagement. They should offer audiences fresh perspectives, reveal untold stories, and utilize creative filmmaking techniques to evoke the mood and energy of the artist’s work.
Hurry Up, Tomorrow serves as a cautionary tale that even with a high-profile subject, a documentary can fall flat without thoughtful narrative structure and production innovation. Fans and filmmakers alike will hope for more compelling treatments of The Weeknd’s fascinating career in the future.
From torunstyle
