Film Reviews

Jonas Brothers: 3D Concert Experience

• Rating:
• Director: Bruce Hendricks
• Starring:
• Details: US/76mins (G)

You really can't go anywhere nowadays without seeing the perennially perky siblings warbling in some form or another. It used to be that they were confined only to the outer reaches of children's cable, where only adolescents dared go; but now, they've engulfed the tween consciousness in a big way, and they're not going anywhere anytime soon. Here, the brothers perform an energetic concert for some predictably crazed fans in New York, and cinema-goers are invited to attend via their local 3D enabled multiplex. While the 3D angle is utilised to the bare minimum, there is no doubting that they know how to put on a show - even if most of their songs sound the same.
With extremely forced "interludes" the guys are chased by crazed female teens, woken up from a deep slumber by their dangerously corpulent bodyguard, and generally fool around and frolic in a way that will delight this productions core audience. These moments are pretty far from genuine, though, and never once make you feel like you're simply a person backstage, hanging with the guys (as they casually whip off their tops). Also, the 3D angle that this is being heavily sold on doesn't work at all, and is most definitely not worth the extra clams it costs to get into a screen. The lads have obviously been told to point at the camera at various points, but it amounts to very little more than that. That said, there is undoubtedly talent flowing through their veins.
Youngest sibling Nick is consistently the most impressive; he easily has the best voice, and belts out tunes while on the piano, the guitar and, most impressively, the drums. If anyone is going to have a career after their fans hit puberty, then it is most likely him.
In an age where Britney Spears can charge a fortune to wriggle her damaged goods on stage while she mimics singing (badly), you have to give credit where credit is due for both an energetic and fun performance. This will still not appeal to anyone other than hardcore fans, though, and even they might be best off waiting to see the real thing in person.

Review by Mike Sheridan