Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You
Ariana Grande struts herself at the O2 London in an unrevealing concert pic.
Few can deny the global stature of Ariana Grande, the platinum-selling princess of bubblegum pop. Excuse Me, I love You is a record of her Sweetener World Tour of 2019, filmed largely within the confines of the O2 arena in London (before it had its roof ripped off by Storm Eunice). In front of a minimum of 49,950 pre-Covid, adoring, teary-eyed fans, Grande struts her stuff dwarfed by an impressive array of set pieces alongside her agile, spirited dancer troupe. Grande fans should love it as it is what it says on the tent: wall-to-wall Ariana Grande along with her million-selling hits, as well as some backstage colour, including a rare solitary moment when the singer gets lots in the labyrinthine intestines of the London venue. However, Grande – who is credited as executive producer – reveals little of herself, while her production numbers come off as more tinsel and power play than anything profound, relevant or revealing. She ain’t Billie Eilish. As one of the world’s most visible music icons, Ariana must have more to say than is revealed here and is begging for an in-depth documentary.
JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Featuring Ariana Grande, Joan Grande, Brian Nicholson, Scott Nicholson, and a lot of fans.
Dir Paul Dugdale, Pro Simon Fisher, Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, Ex Pro Ariana Grande, Ph Thorsten Thielow and Alfredo Flores, Ed Simon Bryant, Benjamin Wainwright-Pearce and Tony Zajkowski, Music Ariana Grande.
Den of Thieves/SB Films/Story Syndicate/Si-Fi Films-Netflix.
97 mins. USA. 2020. UK and US Rel: 21 December 2020. Cert. 15.
