Starring: Shawn Mendes
Release Date: Nov. 23, 2020
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Our Rating: A+

Shawn Mendes is a 22 year old singer/songwriter that began his career on Vine and quickly gained a mass following from his making song covers. Seven years later, he has released four studio albums including his most recent album titled “Wonder” which Netflix’s documentary “Shawn Mendes: In Wonder” surrounds.

This documentary most follows the guidelines of a musicians documentary: it shows Shawn performing, writing songs and the aftermath of touring across the world. Through “Shawn Mendes: In Wonder” viewers can catch an insightful glimpse into the beginning of Shawn’s career and his development as an artist into the present day, such as the creation of his latest album.

At the beginning of the documentary, the filmmakers capture Shawn Mendes’ love for performing and interacting with his fans. A portion of the concert clips looked like they were directly from his concerts: it was just Shawn singing his heart out or practicing before a show with girlfriend and singer Camila Cabello. For example, at the end of “Shawn Mendes: The Tour” he had to use his phone to talk to type out what he wanted to say to the audience watching the documentary because of the intense strain on his voice that each show required.

“Shawn Mendes has genuinely inspired me to become true to myself,” freshman Ludvig Fellstrom said.

In the documentary, Shawn Mendes lets the viewer see past the facade that comes with being famous. Through Grant Singers directions, you can see Shawn for who he is and not what others want to see. Through Shawn’s voicers and clips, the audience is shown the humility of Shawn: at one point he is with his sister, Aaliyah Mendes, the two talk about Shawn being disgusted by the idea of having fame and living in the spotlight and how that plan did not necessarily work out. Like a lot of the clips in the documentary, they seem heartfelt and really make you think about the impact fame had on his life.

When Shawn talks about his relationship and love for Camila Cabello, he drops small personal details which add to the already down-to-earth atmosphere. The songs used also created a welcoming and happy feel. The producers and directors added heartfelt clips without making them cheesy. For example, there was one clip in which Shawn said no amount of words or songs could do his relationship with Camila any real justice. This seemed extremely genuine and further showed how truly human this celebrity is.

“I like how Shawn plays guitar and sings at the same time. It just inspired me to do the same,” junior Greogroy Zarila said.

This documentary is perfect for fans of pop music, due to his numerous hits or even for a Shawn Mendes fan that wants to deepen their bond with the artist. The song choice, behind-the-scenes footage and extensive interviews formed an image of Shawn Mendes that has never been brought to light; this unique perspective makes the documentary a worthwhile watch for any music lover.

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