Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D review: I watched it and I liked it!

By Chris Tookey

PUBLISHED: 19:32 EST, 5 July 2012 | UPDATED: 03:03 EST, 6 July 2012

KATY PERRY: PART OF ME 3D (PG)

Verdict: Perry creates a Brand

Rating: 4 Star Rating

A star is born: Singer Katy Perry in her new film Part of Me

A star is born: Singer Katy Perry in her new film Part of Me

This critic has stoically survived 3D concert films from Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers and even the entire cast of Glee, but I much preferred this account of Katy Perrys 2011 tour, California Dreams.

Having hit the big time with her breakthrough single I Kissed A Girl (And I Liked It), the tour helped her achieve five No1 singles off the same album (the same as Michael Jacksons Thriller) and grossed 40million worldwide.

Some hackles may rise at the sight of the pop princesss fans hailing her arrival as only slightly less significant than the Second Coming.

The agenda of the film is to market the Perry brand. Everything is on message and approved by the star yet its as intimate as this kind of film gets.

Anyone who has not experienced Perry on stage should rapidly warm to this candy-coloured creature. The most interesting aspect of her upbringing is that it was sternly religious.

Her parents are fundamentalist Christian preachers who banned pop music, along with such pernicious influences as Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz.

Since Perrys act contains references to both, you could see her career as an over-reaction to her! parents . As she skips out on stage for the first night of the tour, she declares: This moment is my childhood dream come true!

One of her youngest fans asks her incredulously if shes really 27. Its a good question, since in performance she comes across as 17.

Id have liked to see some acknowledgement that shes not entirely original shes heavily influenced by Madonna and once went so far as to call herself the skinny Lily Allen.

It might also have been interesting to see her, her stylist and her choreographer planning the show and rehearsing it, but she gives the impression all these things come about through the will of one person. Thats her, by the way.

The film shows that, having come up the hard way in pop she started recording at 15 with a gospel album she has developed into a canny marketer of her own brand.

Like Madonna, shes adept at manipulating her image, and her success can be seen in the bond she creates with a mostly female audience ten to 15 years her junior.

Scroll down to watch the trailer

Making dreams come true: Katy Perry with two young besotted fans

Making dreams come true: Katy Perry with two young besotted fans

Emotional: Katy wanted fans to see every side of her in the moving documentary

Emotional: Katy wanted fans to see every side of her in the moving documentary

The film is unsurprisingly reticent about the reasons her marriage to British comedian Russell Brand tanked.

One clue may be the way she reduces her ex-husband to a peripheral figure.

He crops up to say: Hi, sausage! and loses interest when she becomes the centre of attention. Perrys entourage point out that though she took time off durin! g her ar duous tour to see him, he did not do the same for her.

But mostly the film is dedicated to making Perry fans feel fabulous. Not only is it a chance to experience a concert without bubblegum ruining your trainers, its a backstage pass.

Her message may not be as religious as her parents might wish. Its to be persistent and follow your dream, which is good advice, I guess, unless you happen to be Adolf Hitler.

Even though Im the wrong age and sex, I enjoyed the camp production numbers and liked the leading lady. Theres an attractive self-mockery that few stars have, and some intelligence shining behind those china-doll blue eyes.

Hysterical: Katy is seen doubling over as she sobs backstage on her California Dreams tour

Hysterical: Katy is seen doubling over as she sobs backstage on her California Dreams tour in the film

Ever the professional: Despite her personal turmoil, Katy knew the show must go on

Ever the professional: Despite her personal turmoil, Katy knew the show must go on

Im not sure her songs will stand the test of time or that shell still be touring in her 70s, but its easy to see why shes a star.

The most memorable scene comes when, moments before she goes on stage in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she finally realises her marriage is over.

Racked with tears and crumpled up without make-up, she suffers an emotional breakdown.

Its obviously genuine, and the members of her entourage even her older sister are helpless.

The moment Perry changes from that heartbroken girl, slumped in despair, into a pop diva assuming a dazzling smile as she rises through a trapdoor with spinning propellers on her boobs is one of the most stirring! cinemat ic moments of the year, a living if preposterous embodiment of the adage the show must go on.

A few songs later, the audience starts chanting We love you, Katy in Portuguese, and shes moved to tears. Fans love may not be true love, but it can feel like the real thing. After this, you cant help but wish her the best.

Now watch the trailer