Happiness Continues: A Jonas Brothers Concert Film
Starring: Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas
Directed By: Anthony Mandler
I’m back to review some more Jonas Brothers content! You may remember how ecstatic I was when their Happiness Begins documentary was released in June of last year on Amazon. Well, imagine how thrilling it was for me to see they were putting out another documentary during the quarantine. They came through when we needed them the most.
Happiness Continues follows Nick, Kevin, and Joe through their recent concert tour. There’s plenty of concert footage and some behind-the-scenes content showing how they have mended their relationship as a unit since getting back together as a band. This documentary works perfectly as a sequel to Happiness Begins. While Happiness Begins showcased their humble beginnings, rise to stardom, fall, and reconciliation, Happiness Continues displays their return to the spotlight together. It’s the moment that fans have anticipated and the Brothers can show off proudly.
I appreciate the way the film is directed and edited. It isn’t your typical “here we are performing on stage” concert film. There are plenty of moments with Nick, Joe, and Kevin off stage discussing their lives.
One moment that particularly stuck out to me is when Nick starts talking about writing Lovebug at 14 years old (14!?! how does one write such an epic hit at such a young age?) He plays the song in a backstage bathroom because the acoustics are great. It’s a quiet, calm moment that encapsulates the nature of the song. Then, when the second half of the song takes off, it cuts to the Brothers playing for a sold-out show filled with thousands of screaming fans. It’s a fresh and creative editing choice that adds so much to the documentary. There’s a similarly clever choice later in the film when Nick, Joe, and Kevin play for Chicago fans at a local bar. It’s a significantly smaller venue than they just played, but the fans are just as excited. The edits cut from the Chicago bar to the massive amphitheater to prove they’re ready to play anytime, anywhere.
Although the documentary is a wonderful recollection of their concert, I don’t think anything could ever fully showcase what It was like to be in a room with all of the Jonas Brothers fans during the tour. It was a jolt of energy like I’ve never experienced. Singing “That’s Just The Way We Roll,” “S.O.S.”, and “Burnin’ Up” at the top of our lungs without fear of judgment or coronavirus is a memory that I’ll always treasure. They mention in the documentary that their music has been a significant soundtrack to many fans’ life events, including graduations, dates, etc. The Jonas Brothers have been a soundtrack to so many moments in my life. I remember blasting their self-titled album through the entirety of my middle school years including my 13th birthday party. When they reunited last year, their music became the soundtrack of my summer.
If you love the Jonas Brothers or you’re missing the concerts during quarantine, I highly recommend watching Happiness Continues on Amazon Prime. You can rock out to some jams in the comfort of your home and get a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of the Jonas Brothers.