by Jeffery Rahming, Contributing Writer
Abel Tesfaye, more popularly known as The Weeknd, is one of the most enigmatic modern-day pop stars. From the beginning of his career, the smooth singer used his near-angelic voice and dark lyrical storytelling to make even the most toxic relationships sound beautiful. Like many of his pop star predecessors, Tesfaye has often expressed his desire to make it in the film business. But after his disastrous pet TV project The Idol, the idea of Hurry Up Tomorrow, a movie based on his new album, didn’t really garner an enthusiastic response, especially with its vague marketing. Many fans didn’t know if this was a feature, an extended music video, or a concert film. The answer is a little bit of all of these and that results in a mixed bag
Hurry Up Tomorrow is a dizzying adventure through a couple days in Tesfaye’s life — it touches his anxieties with relationships and fame, topics he has harped on for his entire career. The Weeknd struggles with the routine of pop star tour life, and while looking to escape from it, we meet Anima (Jenna Ortega), a superfan who mirrors Abel’s own self-destructive tendencies and obsessions. But what starts out as a fun night becomes more that Abel ever bargained for.
This filmprogresses like a slow march through purgatory. The narrative is expressed more through songs and visuals, relying on an emotional journey rather than a logical one. If you’re familiar with The Weeknd’s music, the themes and general plot are pretty easy to follow; if you’re not, this may seem like a confusing mess. While the script is relatively bare bones, Trey Edward Shults’ skill as a director really gets to shine in the story’s abstractness. Hurry Up Tomorrow is basically a showcase for his command of visual style. From the stylistic to the simple, every shot is finely crafted. Whether it be Shults’ use of color or his shifting aspect ratios, it feels like watching a master at work.
It’s always been a mystery how much of Tesfaye’s “Weeknd” persona is a character, and how much is real. If anybody hopes this movie will make that any clearer, they’re out of luck. This is clearly based on his struggles with the pressure of fame and his constantly failing relationships, but about halfway through, it turns into a fantasy thriller, and it’s an abrupt shift. It’s like two plots mashed together, with neither really reaching their full potential. The parts depicting Abel struggling with being a pop star, while fun and beautifully directed by Shults, lack the energy that Ortega brings. Once she takes on a more prominent role, the movie slows down and has several moments that would be beyond cheesy if it wasn’t for the fact that Ortega is an incredible actress. She steals the show, but her character as written isn’t all that interestingly.
Tesfaye’s performance is quite good. Yes, he’s playing himself, but he proves he has some chops. At the very least, the emotion of panic is one he can portray quite well, and is his predominant state throughout the movie. He’s not convincing me that he could play any character other than himself, but for this project, that’s all thats needed. Of course, it helps that Ortega and Barry Keoghan, who portrays The Weeknd’s manager, are some of the best actors of their generation, so having them as scene partners helps give him something to bounce off of.
Hurry Up Tomorrow isn’t a masterpiece by any means, but it is enjoyable. The Weeknd fans might wish there was more music, and film buffs may find the story basic and derivative, but from the songs to the directing to the acting, the craft behind this project makes up for the fact that it’s working with a pretty loose concept. It won’t be for everyone, but for those looking for a unique theatrical experience, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a fascinating thrill ride — even if the tracks are a little bumpy.
Rating: Liked It
Hurry Up Tomorrow is currently playing in theaters
Read more from Jeffery Rahming