Let me start off by ‘fessing up and telling you that I’m actually not a Glee fan. Sure, I’ve caught the show on TV, but have never understood the obsessive hype. My friend Cyndi, however, is a diehard self-confessed ‘Gleek’. (We used to sit next to each other back at Jupiter Drawing Room and I’d watch her spend her lunch breaks on youtube, transfixed by her favourite clips from the show… It’s because of this that I now know all the words to Ceelo’s Forget You…) So ja… to be perfectly honest, it’s only because of her that I accepted an offer to watch and review Glee The 3D Concert Movie. Well that and ‘cos the PR peeps flashed a bit o’ cash at me…

Anyway, I’m pleased to tell you I actually really enjoyed it. I was expecting a doubly long version of the show, but really, it’s a documentary shot during a live action skouspel that the cast put on in some stadium in the states. The set list was a rundown of the show’s most popular musical numbers and this was interspersed with snappily edited ‘backstage clips’ featuring the cast (who remain in character at all times) plus interviews with the fans. 

Included in the fan interviews are ‘closer looks’ at real life teens who, at some time, all felt ‘different’ or disenfranchised in some way. However, thanks to Glee, which is all about tolerance and self-acceptance, they’ve all felt inspired to embrace their quirks and ‘let their freak flag fly’. I was particularly touched by Trenton, the young gay teen who never had the confidence to express his sexuality. Instead, he’d pour his feelings into his diary and use it to write love letters to a boy in his school that he had a crush on, letters that he knew he’d never send… Then, one day in Grade 8/Std 6, his ‘best friend’ found his diary and made a point of leaving it on the desk of his crush. This horrid boy read EVERYTHING and then ran out of class to flash the diary to the whole freaken school. OMFG! As you can imagine, this poor, sweet, sensitive boy wanted to DIE and disappeared inside of himself for years… However, after watching Kurt, the gay character in Glee and seeing how self-assured he was, he too was encouraged to come into his own and accept the fact that he’s gay and proud. Jissus… I can’t tell you how hard it was not to bawl into my popcorn… 

Emo hecticness aside, the actual song and dance numbers where pretty entertaining. Initially, upon realising the whole movie was going to be a concert rather than feature a plot, I thought I might shoot myself in the face. However, due to the cast’s enthusiasm and undeniable talent, I soon got sucked in and was particularly impressed with Brittany, the uber-doff cheerleader, and her zexy rendition of Ms Spears’ Slave 4 U. 

Another highlight was a clip of the most adorable little blazer-clad asian toddler singing and dancing to the ‘warblers’ version of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream. If you’re having a pooh day and could do with a smile, check him out here.

Oh! And Gwyneth Paltrow makes a surprise appearance too…

In regards to the 3D element, I thought it worked well here and there, but was a bit underutilized throughout. However, unlike crashing actions or epic fantasies, this is the kind of flick that really doesn’t ‘haaave’ to unfold in three bloody dimensions.

So ja… if you’re a Gleek, this baby will be right up your street, while non-fans like me may well find themselves tapping their feet and grinning in spite of themselves. In all, this was an entertaining, well edited ‘feel good’ film and I’m glad I got to check it out. And next time I happen to catch the show on TV, I’m probably going to leave the remote untouched.

Catch Glee The 3D Concert Movie at selected Nu Metro and Ster Kinekor theatres throughout the country.