Review: Shawn Mendes: In Wonder

On November 23 fans of the 22-year-old Canadian pop star, Shawn Mendes, anxiously awaited the release of his Netflix documentary, Shawn Mendes: In Wonder, in anticipation of his upcoming album, Wonder, on December 4.

Mendes takes viewers and fans through his rise to stardom. At the beginning of the movie, viewers start his journey with his vocal teacher in school, then to soaring in popularity on apps like Vine and Youtube, to eventually selling out seats in massive arenas throughout the world. Viewers are taken through his day-to-day life where Mendes is hopping on and off busses and planes, sharing moments with his girlfriend Camelia Cabello, or singing on one of his 105 stop world tours. 

Mendes reflects frequently throughout the film on how his life would have been completely different if he didn’t have the consistent support of his family. The sense of longing to take walks late through his hometown in Ontario, wanting to eat beef jerky with friends, and watching movies on a Friday night with family is a never-ending reminder that his life is far from average. 

Well-known music video director, Grant Singer, helped direct this documentary with Mendes, and it’s very evident through the ‘music video feel’ of the film. But there is a clear motive for this film: to promote his next album.

Unfortunately, the documentary falls short of diving deeper into the triumphs and defeats of Mendes’ career. As a long-time fan of his, I honestly expected more, to see and feel the real Mendes. It felt too ‘happy go lucky’ all the time, not real enough, and that’s what fans want. Only the surface is scratched to a deeper, more meaningful version of Mendes. 

Fans are able to witness an inside look at his music writing and recording process for his next album. Mendes even provides short clips of songs from the upcoming album, which is a positive redeemer of the documentary. 

The singer’s behind the scenes moments are less than flashy, but more humanizing. The constant struggle between letting go of the imperfections and the need of gaining self-worth from his accomplishments is what drives the film forward. Seeing Mendes struggle with being away from family and friends for long periods of time and different health issues affecting his vocal cords provides a somewhat deeper understanding of Mendes. 

Mendes frequently talks about his dealings with anxiety, even writing the song “In My Blood” about the struggles. If fans were able to see this vulnerable side of him, it would make the film that much more impactful and would resonate with his audience more.

In comparison to other popular Netflix documentaries about different artists, Miss Americana, which follows Taylor Swift, does a substantially better job than In Wonder. Swift fans are able to see all the good and the ugly when watching Miss Americana, while In Wonder only touches the surface.

If you’re one of Mendes’ more than 57 million Instagram followers or just want a feel-good film then this is the one for you. But if you only know a handful of songs or are looking for an in-depth look into the life of Shawn Mendes, then maybe skip this one while browsing through Netflix.