Review by Jenny Priestley
Stars Lea Michele, Corey Monteith, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Dianna Agron, Darren Criss, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, Harry Shum Jr, Jenna Ushkowitz, Ashley Fink, Riker Lynch, Gwyneth Paltrow
Certification UK PG | US PG
Runtime 84 minutes
Directed by Kevin Tancharoen
It started as a TV show, brought some old classics to a new generation, became a touring show, spawned it's own term for fans (Gleeks) and now it's a movie - Glee's become something of a cultural phenomenon in the two short years since it first started.
This is a movie of the recent concert tour which visited numerous US cities and also came to the UK for a number of gigs. The film was shot over two gigs in New York earlier this summer, and seeing as it's had such a short time in post-production, it's turned out very well. The majority of the under-90 minutes run time is taken up with the show itself - we see all the stars getting their time in the spotlight, some more than others. Intercut with the performances are a few glimpses backstage, but all the actors are shown as their alter-egos which is a bit of a shame. I already know all about Rachel, I want to know more about Lea Michele. The film also follows four fans, each with their own story of how Glee has touched their lives and helped them triumph over their adversities. It's this part of the film that I found rather worthy and it takes away some of the momentum that the performances have built up. Although one does stand out - watch out for Kellan - everyone in the audience at my screening let out a collective 'awwww' when he appeared on screen.
The performances are all excellent, every actor gets to shine, even Harry Shum Jr who shows what a great dancer he is, even if he can't sing. As I said, some get more screen time than others. Lea Michele shows why she's being talked about as the next Barbra Streisand with a fantastic performance of Don't Rain On My Parade; Amber Riley (Mercedes) proves she's the true diva of the group; Heather Morris (Brittany) pays homage to her namesake, although this is the only song that feels as though it's being mimed, I suppose that's not surprising with the dance routine she perfoms. I would say there's not enough Chris Colfer (Kurt), which echoes many fan's criticisms of the last series.
And what of the 3D? Very few live action films have managed to make full use of the new technology. But this was one does. It really feels like you're in the arena's front row, pulling you in so that you're swaying along in your seat - and in my screening, we were also singing along too. All the songs that we know from the show are there: Sing, Firework, Fat Bottomed Girls etc and there's even a cameo from one of the show's guest stars.
This is a must see for any Gleeks, a great chance to see your favourites performing the songs you've seen them singing in the show. For none Gleeks, there's also enough here to leave you humming Don't Stop Believin' all the way home.