'Glee: The 3D Concert Movie': The Reviews Are In!

Is it as good as the show? Completely gratuitous? Worth the 3-D effects? Read what the critics have to say.
By Kara Warner

Chord Overstreet, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith and Lea Michele in "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie"
Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

For the "Glee"-obsessed out there counting down the days until the start of the hit TV show's third season, your wait has been temporarily abated with the arrival of "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie."

Here at MTV News, we've been celebrating the arrival of the 88-minute music-filled extravaganza with several fun moments with castmembers, including a "Glee"-style musical recap of the film and a hilarious list of superlatives. But now, with the movie finally out, it's time to analyze the nuts and bolts of the film by way of critical mass — it's currently posting a 61 percent "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read on for the "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" reviews, pro/con style.

The Setup
"A blend of concert footage, interstitial fan segments and faux behind-the-scenes snippets (the actors remain in character), pic avoids going the 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' route of documenting the cast members' rise to stardom. Nor does it offer much in the way of surprises. Instead, the goal is largely to provide the 'Glee' Live! concert event for those who missed the recent tour, an immersive experience enhanced by fan testimonials about the series' positive impact on their lives. As tempting as it is to label this approach over-calculated and self-congratulatory, it's virtually impossible not to be swept up in the surge of ebullience and affection. As one fan attests, ' "Glee" is like medicine.' Adds another, 'It's like the playlist of my life.' — Lael Loewenstein, Variety

"Even Gleeks who love to watch seasoned showbiz belters pretend to be high school kids on the hit TV series 'Glee' may wince at the cheesy marketing angle of 'Glee the 3D Concert Movie.' And I report this as a former geeky high school alto who is, if not a Gleek, at least 'Glee' friendly. ... The positive power of a TV show to encourage tolerance and compassion among its viewers is a wonderful thing. But these 'success stories' tilt uncomfortably toward self-congratulation on the part of the producers; certainly they register as overkill for the intended audience, who presumably already know how awesome it is." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

The Performances
"The concert stuff is a slightly knottier matter. The actors from the series perform in character, enacting the roles they play on the show onstage as they sing; Lea Michele's goofily diva-esque Rachel belts out Streisand's big 'Funny Girl' number 'Don't Rain on My Parade' as if Babs herself were out in the audience checking it out. ... A Kurt/Rachel duet of 'Get Happy' and 'Happy Days Are Here Again' is an apt nod to Judy Garland and the originalist strain of glee-club singing and is kind of nifty. On the other hand, Finn's ballad rendition of 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' is an equally apt reminder of the fact that just because something can be done doesn't mean that it should, and the version of Queen's cheekily crass 'Fat Bottomed Girls' by Mark Salling's studly Puck is both entirely beside the point and from hunger, as it were. — Glen Kinney, MSN Movies

"Another of the movie's strengths is the showcasing of cast members with dance training, like McHale, Heather Morris and Harry Shum Jr. The gifted Shum gets favored by the camera frequently during choreographer Zach Woodlee's dance routines, while Morris — whose deadpan timing as ditzy cheerleader Brittany is a show standout — shines in her pumped-up version of Britney Spears' 'I'm a Slave 4 U.' " — Robert Abele, The Los Angeles Times

The Final Word
"For a film that was put together so rapidly, it doesn't look at all shoddy (except for a couple of frames near the end shot from the giant screen instead of the stage). The 3D effect, however, is largely superfluous until the final credits, when the show's trademark blue slushie heads straight for the viewer. On that note, you might leave 'Glee 3D' feeling a little gooey all over, but that slushie does taste kind of sweet." — Loewenstein, Variety

"The movie is entertaining and, admittedly, completely unnecessary. Yes, it works well enough in theaters. But it also would have worked just as well as a heavily promoted special television event broadcast over Thanksgiving weekend. ... In the end, 'Glee: The 3D Concert Movie' is actually a perfect representation of 'Glee' the TV show: At its best, it's joyful, uplifting and even, occasionally, moving. And at its worst, it's a propaganda piece designed to win our undying loyalty to a TV show/cash cow that advocates for the little guy even though it's clearly turned into a diva." — Jen Chaney, The Washington Post

Check out everything we've got on "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Rough Cut: 'Glee: The 3D Concert Movie'

Willa Ford Xenia Seeberg Yamila Diaz Yvonne Strzechowski Zhang Ziyi