#212. Cinema : Rockumentary in 3D

OPENS TODAY
JONAS BROTHERS: The 3D Concert Experience (musical)
Directed by Bruce Hendricks
Starring Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, “Big Rob” Feggans, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift

IF you think that Hannah Montana is a town in America and Miley Cyrus is the name of a species of plant, this movie is totally not for you. However, if you have children below the age of 16 and you want to take an interest in their musical interests, you should give this concert a try — or at least continue reading this review.

The Jonas Brothers are an American pop-rock group who became popular on the Disney Channel network, circa 2007.Hailing from Wyckoff, New Jersey, the band consists of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas. Last summer, they starred in the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock.They have released three albums: It’s About Time (2006), Jonas Brothers (2007), and A Little Bit Longer (2008).

Recently, the group was nominated for Best New Artiste at the 51st Grammy Awards, but lost to Adele Laurie Blue Adkins.

This “rockumentary” is helmed by Bruce Hendricks, who had also directed the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert last year.

The brothers were the opening act while on tour with Cyrus.

This 3D experience comprises concert segments shot during the brothers’ Burning Up tour in Anaheim, California (home of Disneyland), and at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Hendricks opens the movie with glimpses into the boy’s lifestyle — with shots of wake-up calls by their bodyguard “Big Rob” Feggans, a breakfast briefing, and of the brothers fleeing hordes of screaming teenybopper fans — a’la the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night.

Why, Hendricks even includes a shot of the boys watching a TV clip of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964! These sequences are in 2D.

You need to put on the 3D glasses (which are quite comfortable) for the concert numbers. The centrepieces are the new songs: Love Is On Its Way and Live To Party.

If the boys lack vocal range, they make up for it with high energy performances, glitz and gimmicks. There’s even a bit of gymnastics, with the brothers doing cartwheels and flip-flops on stage.

Playing with digital 3D, the directors of photography, Mitchell Amundsen and Reed Smoot, could not resist having drumsticks and guitar picks thrown at our eyes. At one stage, the boys shoot foam from water hoses at the receptive concert crowd.

Their guest stars include Demi Lovato (singing her Camp Rock duet), Taylor Swift and bodyguard Feggans who does a rap number.

At 76 minutes, the film feels rather draggy, especially when Hendricks includes interviews with fans and Jonas Brothers impersonators.

However, he saves their most familiar hits, S.O.S and Burnin’ Up, for the later part of the show.

Parents should understand that little girls wanna have fun. This concert is as good and clean as fun can get.

Source :
The New Straits Time
By : Lim Chang Moh