'Glee:' More enjoyable on TV than on the big screen

Nothing beats watching your favorite act perform before you in a live concert. “Glee” attempts to capture that feeling but only averagely succeeds in its “3D Concert Movie.”

Following Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, and the great Michael Jackson in having a 3D concert film, it is apparently an understatement that “Glee” has made a phenomenal impact on its audience.

The makers of the “3D Concert Movie” are obviously aware of this, showing the gazillions of fans that flocked  to the jam-packed “Glee” tour as evidence. Some fans were clad in the signature outfit of their favorite character, while others wore customized t-shirts and held up DIY posters which are their LOL (labor of love). Some were even picked to tell their own stories, and how they have been inspired and changed (for the better) through a series of features squeezed between the concert's nearly-a-dozen song lineup.

However, it is this very format that reduced the totality of the concert experience in the “Glee” movie. Showing a redhead girl who’s found true friends, a homosexual who came out in eighth grade, and a midget high schooler who won prom queen—all grateful that "Glee" came into their lives—can probably make any heart melt. But for a concert movie, wouldn’t the fans want to see more of the stars behind their favorite “Glee” characters?

The film did show some backstage moments with the “Glee” cast; however, they were in character, too! What makes concert movies, in general, exciting is the additional insights they offer the fans, sealing a somewhat intimate relationship between the idol and the follower. “Glee,” however, didn’t have that.

Even with the colorful and fast-paced shots of the performances and the entire concert movie being in 3D, the content itself looked like something we can see on the boob tube. We have a word for that: TV special.

The less than two-hour extravaganza nevertheless made us see how the “Glee” stars are when they are on stage. And while every “Glee” episode almost always focuses on Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson (Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, respectively), the concert movie allowed the rest of the New Directions to shine.

While Rachel’s powerful rendition of the Barbra Streisand classic, “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” and Mercedes Jones' (Amber Riley) goosebumps-filled performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” are easily one of our favorite numbers, Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) and Artie Abrams’ (Kevin McHale) individual numbers, “Valerie,” and “Safety Dance” respectively, stood out in the pack too.

It was also a joy to see the Warblers get some decent exposure—led by the Filipino-Irish Darren Criss (a.k.a. Blaine Anderson)—with their charming back-to-back-to-back performances of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs” and Pink’s “Raise Your Glass.”

Mercedes and Santana’s duet of “River Deep, Mountain High” is also a showstopper, as with Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr.) and Brittany S. Pierce's (Heather Morris) killer dance moves.  Brittany’s performance of Britney Spears’ “I’m A Slave 4 U” in this concert movie is even better (and note, hotter) than what she did on TV.

Cameo alert: Four-year-old Fil-Am YouTube sensation Kellen Sarmiento, better known as “Mini Warbler,” adds the adorableness in the “Glee” movie with a clip of his cute impersonation of Blaine in “Teenage Dream” acquiring considerable screen time (he’s in the end credits, too!).

Despite the missed notes, “Gleeks” would nevertheless enjoy the concert movie. But maybe they’d find more pleasure watching an episode of “Glee” in the comforts of their own homes with their favorite slushie in hand.

“Glee: The 3D Concert Movie” opened Sept. 21 on a two-week run.

Source: Manila Bulletin

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