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, Harry Shum Jr, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Ashley Fink, Riker Lynch, Gwyneth Paltrow
UK certification PG | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 90 minutes | Directed by Kevin Tancharoen
It started as a TV show, brought some old classics to a new generation, became a touring show, spawned its 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 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.
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' long after you switch off the DVD.
EXTRAS ★★½ Unseen performances of the songs Dog Days Are Over and Friday; extended performances of the songs Ain't no Way and Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy; the featurette On Stage With The Cast (5:38), which includes introductions from Sue Sylvester that were cut from the film; and the featurette Backstage With The Cast, (1:34), which consists of more interviews with the cast in character.