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Katy Perry Part of Me: The Movie 3D

8/10

Stars: Katy Perry

Director: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz

Part carefully controlled (i.e. promotional) biopic and part lavish pop concert movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me The Movie turns out to be surprisingly enjoyable even for someone like me who knew nothing much – and didn’t particularly want to know much – about the much publicised singer. I enjoyed the smartly edited show’s sheer zest.

The spectacular song-and-dance numbers captured from Perry’s year long world tour (“She’s not done anything like this”, admires one of her crew) during which she performed in the US, Europe, South America and Japan are gaudy, exuberantly choreographed and splendidly showcased in 3D. Perry’s public profile as a performer is expertly exploited. Happily, she merits this exposition – she sparkles on stage, sings up a storm and her dancing more than makes up in sheer energy what it lacks in Astaire-Rogers level expertise. She proves that her fame as the first female singer to have five number one hit singles from one album was eminently well deserved. As for her extraordinary costumes, Perry neatly sums up their appeal by asking ”How can you ever be too cartoony?”

Well contrived offstage, behind the scenes ‘reality’ footage follows Perry’s continuing reactions to her crumbling marriage to Russell Brand (seen briefly in a rapid walk-off appearance) and are used to good effect to accentuate the movie’s traditional ‘the show must go on' message which is accentuated in a scene where she goes on stage despite weeping as she approaches it.

“She’s running herself ragged”, says one of her large entourage and we see it happen, albeit filtered through (I assume) the contributions of the film’s sixteen credited producers who include Ron Howard and Perry herself.

And interesting home video footage captures the young Perry, daughter of travelling preachers and helps round out a charming portrait of a star, which, while clearly and carefully shaped on the screen, nonetheless emerges as surprisingly likeable. Like the film itself.

Her appeal? In the words of one of her featured fans, “You made me feel being weird is OK’.

Alan Frank

USA 2012. UK Distributor: Paramount. Colour by deluxe.
97 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: PG.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 07 Jul 2012