This Is It? He's More than a Beauty Queen From a Movie Scene!

Michael Jackson’s This Is It

**1/2 out of ****

Directed by: Kenny Ortega

Running Time: 112 minutes

It’s definitely not “bad,” but it’s not much of a “thriller” either.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It is a tribute film following the rehearsal sessions for the King of Pop’s comeback concert tour, originally scheduled for this fall but cancelled due to the icon’s sudden demise on June 25.

At certain moments, it’s an intoxicating glimpse into the King of Pop’s creative process and his captivating musicianship, not to mention a dazzling showcase of his groovy (and globally recognized) dance moves. At other times, it holds the merit of a subpar behind-the-scenes TV special.

The rights to the film were bought last August by Sony Pictures. The company received hundreds of hours of footage from rehearsals held at The Staples Center and The Forum in Los Angeles.

Kenny Ortega, director and choreographer for the concert (as well as Jackson’s HIStory and Dangerous tours, Dirty Dancing and the High School Musical trilogy) sorted through the reels with a team of editors. Some of the footage they’ve assembled is an awe-inspiring memorial to a music legend. Other sequences serve as filler, much of which is largely underwhelming.

The film is essentially the concert set list, with Jackson (and his impressive troupe of background dancers and accompanying band) performing work-in-progress variations of his greatest hits.

The strongest numbers are the ones without the flashy pyrotechnics, but the songs where the King of Pop stands solo, center stage. Up close, Jackson is simply electrifying.

While it is understandable that his vocal range and movement don’t encompass all he is capable of (this was a rigorous rehearsal process, after all), these moments feel personal and honest. The floaty “moonwalks” even seem heavier.

Also, watching a feisty Jackson work on the musical arrangement for the tour shows that he was not only a mesmerizing performer, but a stubborn perfectionist. Jackson was a creative force who had a sharp tongue and liked things his way. It was good to be the King.

Other footage is equally stunning: an elaborate mini-movie for “Smooth Criminal,” a clever black-and-white homage to gangster films, features Jackson on the run from Hollywood stars like Bogart and Cagney. It is slick, seductive, no-holds-barred entertainment.

Some of the concert’s other ambitious set-pieces are less notable. "Thriller," arguably Jackson’s piece de resistance, was recreated for the tour using 3D effects and features lots of creepy ghouls with elaborate makeup. Unfortunately, this performance contains a curious lack of Michael Jackson.

Another mini-movie, for “Earth Song,” features environmental messages as subtle as a gang of lumberjacks with chainsaws. The weight of that performance’s preachiness nearly overshadows the song’s elegance.

Furthermore, there is quite a flurry of footage of the background dancers, hundreds of whom strutted the stage for Jackson and his crew. These would make excellent episodes of So You Think You Can Dance Five Feet Behind Michael Jackson, but are out of place in a poignant tribute.

This Is It works best as a shimmery dedication to a legendary artist. It’s quite mediocre as a concert film. If Michael Jackson was still reigning as King today, the footage wouldn’t be nearly as dazzling or sensational. It only contains glimmers of his potential.

For one of the grandest and most ambitious musical icons of our times, it's debatable whether Jackson would've wanted us to see these works-of-progress (even if some of the footage is remarkable).

Much of the sans-Jackson footage should have found its place on the editing room floor. Documentary pieces of our subject and his various milestones on the domain of popular music could have been inserted instead, and would have made this memorial far more gratifying.

Some of the performances are “off the wall,” but the rest can just “beat it.” If this is really it, as the title proclaims, we’ve got a tribute for a king that’s more fit for a prince.