“Hurry Up Tomorrow” follows a musician who goes on a nightmarish odyssey that unravels the very core of his existence.

Who Thought This was a Good Idea?

A better synopsis for “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is “The Weeknd’s therapy session.” As a companion piece to his most recent album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” the film may be a success. As a movie, however, it’s a disaster.

Despite its shortcomings, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” does have several engrossing moments. These come when one of two talented actors — Barry Keoghan (Lee) or Jenna Ortega (Anima) — are onscreen. Acting alongside Abel Tesfaye, both of them have to do heavy lifting.

Tesfaye has received an abundance of criticism for his performance here. It’s bad, yes. Though, I’ve certainly seen worse.

This role was hand-crafted for Tesfaye. Because of this, there are moments where he succeeds. When paired alongside Keoghan and Ortega, however, the difference is clear. Tesfaye’s dialogue delivery and facial expressions make for completely unbearable sequences. This alone sabotages the film on a character and story level.

From the start, Abel is an unlikable lead in “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” The film establishes that he is the problem, but this doesn’t solve the issue. The side characters, Lee and Anima, are more relatable and approachable. Because of this, I found myself waiting for their next appearance over Abel himself. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” fails as a character study on Abel’s desire to escape the toxicity in his life, as he isn’t even the most interesting character.

A Technical Win in a Messy Package

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is successful on a technical level. The film seamlessly shifts through a variety of different settings. Whether it’s an entire concert venue or a small bedroom, it manages to capture the beauty in every location.

Music by The Weeknd is also effectively utilized as another storytelling vessel. These songs tell a tale of their own, with the lyrics adding depth to Abel as a character.

Self-Indulgent, Pretentious and Narcissistic

Those three words perfectly sum up “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Not only does this show that Tesfaye is ill-equipped to lead a feature film, but the entire experience also reeks of desperation.

Wasting the talents of Keoghan and Ortega while asking the audience to sympathize with a multimillionaire celebrity, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” doesn’t deserve your time.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5