What do you get when you combine Bettie Page, Candy Land, whipped cream and a cat aptly named Kitty Purry? Katy Perry, of course. Add a film crew to the mix and you have the pop princess’s latest venture, Part of Me, a documentary following Perry on her exhaustive and sold-out California Dreams tour in 2011.
Perry isn’t the first pop star to enter into the concert film arena (Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers have all done so in the past). However, Perry’s film stands out for all the right reasons.
Having been to a Katy Perry concert from her California Dreams tour, the documentary did not disappoint. Not one for 3D films, I actually found this film to be all the more better because it was in 3D. During the performances, I didn’t just feel like an audience member. I was right there on the stage with Perry and was able to relive the concert all over again, just with more vivid details and fewer screaming fans in my ears. For anyone who missed any of the 124 sold-out shows, Part of Me is the perfect (or shall I say purr-fect) substitute.
We see Perry’s life story play out from her sheltered childhood where she was raised by her traveling, born-again Pentecostal parents, her rebellious years as a teenager in Los Angeles, Calif., to her rapid rise to fame. The most talked about and anticipated aspect of the film, however, was Katy’s marriage with Russell Brand and its ultimate demise.
The subject was obviously a tough one for Perry, whose 14-month fairytale romance ended when Brand filed for divorce in December of 2011. It came as a shock to some when it was revealed that their marriage would be shown in Perry’s documentary.
Early on in the tour, we see Perry preparing for a meet and greet with fans after a show. Brand greets her and compliments her performance, then Perry hugs him, her crystal blue eyes as wide and bright as ever. That moment was a stark contrast to a much later tour date where Perry is seen hours before her show in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A pink-haired Perry is curled up in a makeup chair, crying her eyes out as her sister, manager and assistant look on. “She never cries,” said her assistant to Perry’s manager. The two stare at each other, unsure of what to do.
By that time in her tour, Perry was physically exhausted, and you’d expect her to be when facing 124 two-hour performances. She also made time to fly out and visit Brand on her days off.
Perry’s manager consoles her as she’s sobbing and tells her she can either cancel the show or tough it out. Of course, Perry chooses the latter. However, just minutes before she’s suppose to go on stage, Perry begins to sob again. It’s a heartbreaking moment that humanizes the pop icon. In that moment and several others throughout the film, Perry sheds the cotton candy clouds, cupcake bras and peppermint dresses. We get to see the real human underneath it all, not the cartoon or untouchable starlet we expect her to be.
That seems to be the overall core of the documentary, though. There is a real girl underneath all of the sugar and glitter, one who actually writes her own songs and has a brilliant voice, who didn’t come from some extraordinary background, and who struggled on her rise to fame after being dropped by so many record labels. She’s a bit weird at times and isn’t afraid to show her vulnerability. Most of all, she loves her fans, which was clearly shown when she put them before herself during the Sao Paulo show.
Perhaps Part of Me’s only downfall is the lack of one-on-one time with Perry. Her life story and rise to fame is told through friends, family members, managers and her assistant. We even see other stars like Adele, Rihanna and Jessie J praise the singer. Very little film time is dedicated to Perry interviews, which were truly the most humanizing and coveted to watch.
One thing is sure after seeing Part of Me: I have gained much more respect for Perry. She’s inspiring to girls everywhere, and she’s not just another cookie cutter pop star. The diehard fan, occasional listener or doubter of Perry can all gain something from watching this film. Perry shows us all that a small spark can be a firework.
Critic’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Jessica Keesee can be reached at jessica.keesee@spartans.ut.edu.