From Judy and Mickey To Finn and Rachel

Every generation has its singing, dancing teenagers. Judy and Mickey, Frankie and Annette, Vanessa and Zac, seeking love and, often, stardom. For my generation it was the talented students of “Fame.” We wanted to be them, and we certainly tried to be like them, if my memory of dancing on the cafeteria tables while a student banged out “Hot Lunch” on the piano in 10th grade is accurate. Now we have Finn and Rachel, the two main characters in the TV series, “Glee,” which recycles the genre, mixes it up with a lot of knowing references, silly-smart dialogue and irresistible pop hits from the last 30 years, and adds a dose of empowerment. “Glee” parades a range of characters: geeks, nerds, odd-balls, the disabled, qualities that make a person stand out from the crowd. Sometimes it’s affecting, as in the plotline with a cheerleader who has Down’s Syndrome. Sometimes it’s awkward and uncomfortable, as with a character who was brought forward this season to make fat OK. Unfortunately, the actress, Ashley Fink, has very little else to do in the show (and the film) other than be the fat girlfriend of a hot guy. But “Glee” the movie is not just a longer version of “Glee” the show. It’s half concert movie and half documentary. But the documentary isn’t about the characters, or even the actors who play the characters. It’s about the “Gleeks,” the fans who adore and are inspired by the show. Three stories are told in detail, each about a teenager who at first seems “normal” but then is shown to be “different,” and how “Glee” helped pave their path to acceptance. A girl with Aspergers describes overcoming her anxiety and social isolation. A cheerleader with dwarfism gets asked to the prom by a “typical” sized guy. And Trenton, a gay teen who was outed horribly in 8th grade is now a happy 19-year-old, inspired to accept himself by Kurt, the gay character on “Glee” who has practically been sainted by the show for enduring and standing up to gay bashing. The concert becomes almost an afterthought, much less memorable than the real teens, because the actor/characters have had all the rough edges and imperfections buffed away, not a moment of spontaneity or insight about character or performer is to be seen. The cast has some seriously talented dancers but they are wasted here on possibly the worst pop-concert choreography ever to make it to a screen. But it’s actually that self-esteem-y, I-learned-to -love-myself message that is most pernicious. The idea that all we need is to love ourselves and trust that others will learn to love us too, is only half the story, or should be. A teen in “Glee 3D” says she has learned to be less judgmental of others, because “Everyone has a story,” and it would have been a wonderful thing to show these kids taking the time to learn each others’ stories. But in the world of “Glee,” everyone’s story has room for only one star. “Glee 3D” is playing at the Cinerom Digital Movieplex in Torrington, CT, and elsewhere. It is rated PG for some language and suggestiveness.