When it comes to the song numbers, boy, can this group of energetic kids deliver! If you`ve had any qualms about their vocal prowess, seeing and hearing them sing live while pulling off slick dance movies will put to rest any doubts about their talent. (We do suspect there may be cast members who were lip synching. Although Lea Michelle, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and Gwyneth Paltrow, who makes a cameo here, are surely acquitted of that charge.)
There will always be snobs who diss Glee`s covers, accusing them of being poor karaoke-esque copies, but there are also as many fans who celebrate their joyful renditions of popular top 40 hits. Personally, we find that their covers range the spectrum, from brilliant and memorable to cruise-ship perfunctory. In the film though, the song selection actually comprises some of the best of Glee`s covers, with Kurt`s (Chris Colfer) inventive slowed-down, tenderised take on The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand, standing out as one of the highlights.
Unfortunately for Gleeks (a term coined for fans of the series), you won`t get to see much footage of the Glee cast`s day to day life. The movie is more concerned with how Glee changed the life of three kids a dwarf cheerleader, a redhead with Asperger`s syndrome, and a black gay male dragged out of the closet in the 8th grade and each of their stories are moving, though it won`t come as a surprise that all three stories end on a positive, self-affirming note. The common thread running through these three stories is that these kids are perceived as freaks by some people, and Glee gave them the courage to accept themselves and deal with their problems.
Sounds self-congratulatory? Maybe so, but then again part about what is so radical about Glee is its honesty, expressed mostly through its song numbers. And this honesty extends to self acceptance, something the show seems almost obsessed with, and something the show`s fans have willingly embraced.
There is no doubt that most Gleeks will embrace this movie as well, what with its palpable air of exuberance and joy. Director Kevin Tancharoen has done a great job distilling all the best elements of the pop culture phenomenon into the 100-minute concert movie. If you don`t watch the show, you may be a little lost, but it may provide insight into why the show is beloved by so many.
A concert movie that sets out to deliver the goods to its fans, and does so in spades, without aspiring to be anything more.
Raymond