One Direction: This Is Us

"One Direction: This Is Us" chronicles the thrilling journey of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry, capturing their transformation from ordinary boys to global superstars, showcasing their X-Factor breakthrough, heartfelt struggles, and electrifying O2 Arena performances.

The fact is that they are as criminally cute as a basketful of puppies. This Is Us manages to frame that boyish appeal astutely .

This Is Us does what it needs to do for its target audience. But anyone looking for actual substance or insight will be disappointed and maybe even a little bored with its repetitive nature.

With a group so evidently versed in the visuals of rock history, it's a shame that a filmmaker wasn't hired who would pay homage to classic pop films instead of offering a satisfactory paid promotional.

It's not that Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson aren't charming and likable. The problem is that the movie offers no way of differentiating them beyond their hairstyles.

It might not make you a fan of One Direction, but it will certainly make you understand the group, which is the job of any good documentary.

For the most part, the movie embraces harmless fun, which can be enjoyable for the audience members, whether they're 1D fans or not.

"One Direction: This Is Us" leaves the larger questions it points toward teasingly unexplored, making the film little more than a harmless keepsake.

An airbrushed image of celibate wholesomeness without groupies or even girlfriends, and where evidently nothing stronger than milk passes these young men's lips.

No personal revelations surface in "This Is Us." Also, no narrative, no conflict - no differentiation between band members, even, besides the designation of dark-eyed Zayn as "the mysterious one" (he likes to paint).

[It] amounts to little more than a big, wet kiss to the group's worldwide legions of young, female fans

This is a love letter to the fans from five boys who know how lucky they are and like to show off for the camera.

Some of the film's most memorable moments involve Niall and Liam looking down on oceans of screaming devotees in the street, and controlling their cheers like orchestra conductors.

For audiences willing to spend some time basking in the glow of the teen sensation of the moment, this docu-music-infomercial is as palatable, and as disposable, as the group's hit songs.

The stage footage, from Madison Square Garden to Mexico City's stadium, has some snazzy allure. The 3-D effects make fans feel like they could reach out and squeeze them.

This doesn't set out to be a movie that gets at anything more than making the One Direction guys look adorable, if maybe just a little darker than your average boy-band bunch.

Essentially a slick, airbrushed promo reel of a bunch of genuinely sweet superstars who can't believe their dumb luck. That's charming. But it's also a little boring. What it's most definitely not is a documentary.