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If you’re a long-time fan of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” will pull your heartstrings and give you the concert experience of a lifetime. But if you’re only a casual fan, don’t waste your money on this two-hour money grab masquerading as a heartfelt tribute.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since last semester, you already know Michael Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50, succumbing to a cardiac arrest. Since then, Hollywood hasn’t stopped talking about it, and “This Is It” is a direct reflection of its obsession with Michael.
Just before his untimely death, Jackson was busy preparing for what would have been his final performances onstage, which would have been held at London’s O2 Arena. The fan response to his announcement of the concerts made him add another 40 shows to the planned series of 10. Jackson was devoted to his music and his fans, and his final concerts surely would have been a sight to see live. However, when he passed away, many were disappointed that Jackson never got one last chance to perform.
“This Is It” is footage of Michael Jackson preparing for his final performance, originally recorded for Michael’s personal use and never intended to be shown to fans. The documentary follows Michael through his final days, showing us how he interacted with everyone he was working with just before his death, along with a glimpse at what his final concert would have been like, had he performed.
I like to think I’m a casual fan of Michael Jackson’s music. I’ve got some of his well-known songs in my playlist, and it certainly did get my toes tapping when he sang some of his most popular songs, of which there is an abundance. If you’re a fan of “Billie Jean,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It” and “Thriller,” you will see those and more in “This Is It.”
Another thing I found really fascinating about the movie was looking at the gradual progression of the concert’s planning process. We get to see new sequences for some of Jackson’s classic songs, incorporating Humphrey Bogart of “Casablanca” fame into “Smooth Criminal” and many new, planned to be 3-D zombies in “Thriller.” Watching Jackson and his crew make these sequences was fascinating. Other than that, the documentary offers little to casual fans. Less than an hour into the film, I was glancing at my watch and wondering whether or not I should get a refill on popcorn, because the film didn’t have anything to pull me in.
There is no development with Jackson’s personal life. Granted, his death came very suddenly. This film ably demonstrates that, even at 50, he still could do a mean moonwalk and knew his songs by heart. However, we see none of the personal aspects of the man behind the sunglasses and shiny suits. The film doesn’t mention the darker aspects of Jackson’s life either, but since this is more of a concert movie and a love letter to the late singer, it’s unsurprising that they wouldn’t want to touch upon those sketchy years of his life.
You can see the dedication Michael has to his final shows in “This Is It,” even wanting to forgo safety measures at times so he can have fun and try out what would be instant crowd pleasing sections to songs, such as performing on a crane that would stretch out above the audience. Director Kenny Ortega (director of the “High School Musical” series) tries to stress how Michael loved performing almost as much as he loved people. Almost every time he gives tips or politely tells the people around him what he wants for the performance, he ends the conversations with “God bless you.” You can almost make a drinking game out of how many times he says it. But unless you are a devoted fan, none of this will make a difference when you watch this musical documentary.
“This Is It” idolizes Jackson, showing, even with unfinished lighting and stage effects, that his last performance would have, without a doubt, been one of his greatest. Combining a blend of video, elaborate sets and choreography that could only be done by the King of Pop, hardcore fans of Jackson who haven’t already seen the film will want to get to theaters before it leaves on Nov. 12, since that’s the last chance to see it until it comes out in stores in early February.
But for those who aren’t fans of the man or the music, stay away. It’s tough for some people to get through five minutes of his music, and it would be a shame to have them tough out two hours of Michael Jackson, especially when half of the time he’s saving his voice and not giving his all.
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