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From a young fan’s point of view, this 3D presentation of the US boy trio’s popular 2008 gigs at Madison Square Garden delivers in spades. The group’s devoted sub-teen fanbase get to see their Disney-spawned idols Kevin, Joe and Nick up close, on stage, back stage, in interview, mucking about in a Beatles/Monkees style, even being raised from slumber by their trusty forklift truck of a minder. They not only play a wide selection of their hits (at least, I think they’re hits) but also a new song called ‘Love Is on Its Way’. The fans will love it. And, what’s more, it’s nicely timed to coincide with the group’s new album in June.
So what’s it like from the point of view of an accompanying adult? Have you ever inadvertently thrust your face into a meat processor? I imagine Bruce Hendricks’s film is only marginally less painful. Everything, including the purple-colour tint, the 3D effects and the overall structure, appears to have been taken from his earlier ‘Hannah Montana’ film. The sound quality is iffy, with so much harsh instrumentation in the mix that one can barely decipher the lyrics – which is probably just as well. Meanwhile, Nick, Joe and Kevin strut their contrived stuff over an expansive, elaborate stage set and pull off every naff pop cliché in the book, while outside sequences show the fans being herded like cattle. These songs wash over in waves of such turgid mediocrity that by the end you’re praying for it to stop. Thankfully, after 76 minutes, it does – and all is well again.