August 12, 2011
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
This makes you realize just how crucial Jane Lynch is to the Fox TV show's success. She's nowhere to be found in this peppy concert film, shot over two days during the recent North American tour, and her trademark snark as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester is sorely missed.
Instead what we're left with are the musical performances, which are admittedly glossy, high-energy and infectious, but they seem awfully earnest on their own.
Director Kevin Tancharoen doesn't offer much that you haven't already seen on the ridiculously popular television series. The actors, in character, perform many of the songs that have become fan favorites with the same choreography and sometimes even the same costumes from the show.
If you're looking for revealing behind-the-scenes footage, forget it. And yet, if you love "Glee," you'll be psyched. These are your idols, leaping into your laps in crisp, bright 3-D. They're all multitalented, dedicated young performers who have pulled off the difficult feat of working their butts off but making it look effortless and even fun.
Fan testimonials and inspirational back stories grind the film to a halt; thankfully, Tancharoen keeps coming back to the music.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
