What I didn’t realize going to this movie is that it’s a movie about a concert.  So I was sitting in a theater watching people in a theater watch a concert from the Glee cast.  Not exactly what I was expecting.  AND…it was in 3D.

The concert is just the cast of Glee performing the songs that you saw them do on the show.  They mix in comments from the cast backstage and shots of the audience.  They also give the story of three or four kids in the audience and how Glee has impacted their lives.

All the songs are ones you’ve heard them perform.  Most of them lack production value and character interaction that you get on the show.  Which is what makes Glee such a success.  So it’s a bit of a let down.  It’s a lot of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Corey Monteith), much like the show.  Characters that are background characters on the show are given the same treatment in the movie.  Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) is barely shown.  They are also faithful to the show in their complete overacting of each and every song.  Especially Finn.  And Blaine (Darren Criss).  But Blaine’s is more entertaining.  Finn just looks pained.

Brittany (Heather Morris) and Michael Chang (Harry Shum Jr.), the two characters who can actually dance, are under-utilized in a 3D movie.  They should have placed them more front and center (literally and figuratively).  At least give me something other than plain blue polo shirts.  (I’m guessing Lacoste had a hand in filling the costume budget.)  And Artie (Kevin McHale) is being wasted on the show and in the movie.  They put him in a wheelchair.  But the kid can actually dance.  They should find someone else to put in the wheelchair and let him showcase his talents better.  I do have to say that the songs Artie performed had the most entertainment value.

I’m of the opinion that everything should be in 3D.  It’s the way the world is.  It’s the way movies should be.  And tv shows.  I don’t even mind wearing a pair of glasses over my glasses.  However, I don’t know how much the 3D adds to this movie.  What kept getting me with the 3D is the people in the audience raising their hands and phones and whatnot.  I kept thinking it was the people in front of us.  And I almost clapped at the end of a few songs.  Not because they were exceptional or anything.  You just kinda get a concert vibe, and that’s what you do.  Some of the others in the not very crowded theater actually clapped at the end of songs.  And if you’re curious as to what I consider “gratuitous use of 3D,” just watch the end credits.

The best use of the 3D was Brittany’s performance of “Slave 4 U.”  She knows why she’s popular on the show.  She even comments on it.  That’s all I have to say about that.  (It was commented that she could almost pass for Brittney Spears.)

I find it odd that Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) was nowhere to be seen in the movie.  I think he’s taking advantage of his 15 minutes of fame to tour on his own.  And it is highly disappointing that Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) wasn’t included either.  (From what I read, her scenes were apparently deleted.  What a shame.)

I hope these kids are making some serious money. They’re turning a nice profit for the creators. They deserve a decent cut.

The highlight of the movie was a young Asian boy who obviously watches the show (or at least one performance) a LOT. He performs along with the show and does as good a job as anyone on the show. If you’re going to see this movie, wait for the closing credits to see his whole performance.

If you like the show, you don’t need to see the movie.  You’ve seen the songs performed on the show.  And they’re done better on the show.  If you spent the money to go to the concert, well, you definitely don’t need to see the movie.  You already have.  If you don’t like the show, why are you even bothering wasting your time reading the review?  You really don’t need to see it.  I watch the show.  I like the show.  I got nothing from the movie.  Not even a good meal.  The 11 and 15-year-old girls I took enjoyed it.  As did most of the rest of the theater.  But, again, there weren’t many people there.  It is a very small demographic that this movie will actually appeal to.

I am not in that demographic.