Four stars. Rating: PG, for thematic elements, mild profanity and some sensuality
By Derrick Bang
Yes, I'm a Gleek. Proudly. Passionately.
But not always indiscriminately. I'll freely acknowledge that some of the recently completed second season episodes were quite weak: bereft of plot and little more than excuses to place more songs on iTunes. At times, this show's commercial tail definitely wags the artistic dog.
 |
| Kurt (Chris Colfer), Mercedes (Amber Riley, center) and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) belt their way through one of many show-stopping numbers, en route to a glorious, slushy-filled finale. |
But when it's on fire ... goodness, it blazes.
As is the case with Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.
This experience couldn't possibly be better at what it set out to be. Glee fans will love it, embrace it, return for multiple viewings and then buy it the millisecond a DVD becomes available. But they'll have only a fraction of the heart-pounding, fist-pumping, dancing-in-the-aisles joy granted by this big-screen sensation.
You want — nay, need — to see this puppy on as large a screen as possible, to take full advantage of the excellent 3D cinematography. And be sure the theater has big-big-big speakers, capable of pumping out enough sound to sterilize frogs in the next county.
This was a planned 3D shoot from the onset. Cinematographer Glen MacPherson and director Kevin Tancharoen made damn sure to avoid the often blurry, always darkened look of retrofitted 3D. The colors literally pop off the screen, and the many costumes are by turns dazzling, cheeky, affectionately retro and audaciously sexy. Naughty schoolgirls never have been this hot.
I'll assume TV show costume designer Lou Eyrich also handled this chore for the "Glee" summer concert tour that became this film; that credit, maddeningly, is nowhere to be found in the press notes. In which case, she deserves to take another bow.
Mostly, though, this film blazes with energy. These kids truly give their all during every one of the 23 songs comprising this high-octane show. One could wish that the mix included a few more quiet tunes, such as Kurt's (Chris Colfer) gentle rendition of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" ... but let's face it; the stand-out moments in "Glee" always revolve around power — and empowerment — anthems.
And yes, calling them "kids" is a bit of a wink-wink-nudge-nudge. Lea Michele (Rachel) is just this side of 25; Dianna Agron (Quinn) IS 25; Naya Rivera (Santana) is 24; and Cory Monteith (Finn) and Mark Salling (Puck) are 29. At 21, Colfer is one of the youngest. Indeed, they've long pushed the envelope by playing high school seniors ... but hey, that's nothing new.
Tancharoen and show runner Ryan Murphy deserve considerable credit for reproducing — to the best degree possible — the fan-generated excitement of the summer concert tour. This film couldn't be fresher; the footage was shot during the cast's two-day stop, June 16-17, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
