Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu explores star's upbringing, anxiety; some language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
What's the Story?
SHAWN MENDES: IN WONDER follows the singer during a year-long world tour. The camera goes backstage at concerts, inside tour buses, inside his apartment, and around his Canadian neighborhood and childhood home. The artist reveals some of his vulnerabilities and the pressures of fame and a successful musical career, from anxiety to constant fans to vocal cord injuries. He doesn't get to spend a lot of time or have much of a "normal" twenty-something's life with live-in girlfriend, the singer Camila Cabello. But the two share insights into their relationship. Shawn's mother, father, and sister are shown to be a constant source of comfort and support for him, as are his childhood friends. The documentary includes home video footage of Shawn as a young boy and teenager.
Is It Any Good?
If Shawn Mendes: In Wonder is to be believed, the award-winning artist is just a hometown boy from suburban Toronto who loves music. A nice Canadian who, thanks to a supportive family and an "Olympic athlete" persistence at perfecting his skills, made it big. Here's Shawn, crying over a canceled concert, only consoled by his mom via Facetime. Shawn, driving himself around Toronto and offering instructions to a fan at a stoplight on how to turn the phone to selfie mode. Shawn, talking about his non-normal "normal life" with girlfriend Camila Cabello in their first apartment together. Those thousands of young female fans filmed swooning over Shawn at venues around the world? This film is for them, and they'll love him all the more for it.
But there's content here for the non-swooners too. It involves Shawn's upbringing and home life, what he misses about home, his fears for the future, the anxiety that has accompanied fame. His parents' families immigrated to Canada from Europe. His parents still live, with his high school-aged sister, in his childhood home (and maintain his bedroom intact). He's kept his childhood friends. A schoolteacher helped him pursue his dreams. This is all, you could argue, the view we're meant to see here -- no substance abuse, no celebrity outbursts, no rumors, nothing overtly sexual (you can YouTube the Mendes-Cabello "Señorita" video later). This documentary is entirely focused on the young man and his music, and that's something to be appreciated.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the pros and cons of a successful musical career, some of which are depicted or talked about in Shawn Mendes: In Wonder.
Why do you think the musician was so affected by having to cancel the concert in Brazil? Why do you think this was such a difficult decision for him? Who did he turn to for reassurance?
Shawn admits he struggles with anxiety, used to eschew fame, and sometimes would just like to be home watching movies with his family. Were these revelations new to you about the artist? Were you surprised by any of them?
How has Shawn demonstrated perseverance? Why is that an important character trait?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 23, 2020
- Cast : Shawn Mendes , Camila Cabello , Karen Mendes
- Director : Grant Singer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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