Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris

by Mike McGranaghan

I confess that I unavoidably came to Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris from two different perspectives. The first, obviously, is as a film critic. The second is as a former “KatyCat.” For the better part of a decade, her music was in perpetual rotation on my CD player, and I continually raved about the creativity of her videos and artistic vision. Then things took a downturn for the singer. A couple of massively disappointing albums and a series of events – reteaming with alleged abuser Dr. Luke, the Blue Origin flight, awkwardly over-relying on sexuality during the whole143 debacle - made her, as the kids say, cringe.

On both counts, this concert documentary put me through a range of feelings, ultimately reminding me that, for whatever career mistakes she’s made, Perry still has a solid core as an entertainer.

The live show itself is indicative of her recent problems. It’s designed to be an overblown sci-fi spectacle wherein her character, KP 143, takes on a malevolent artificial intelligence program known as “the Mainframe.” She does this by singing songs that allow her to collect power-giving hearts. Video screens in the background continually flash various graphics to advance this ridiculous story. In between sections, there are pre-filmed interludes that accomplish the same task.

Although impressive on a technical level, the elaborate staging, which includes fight scenes and flying through the Parisian concert venue, occasionally overwhelms the songs. Perry is often swallowed up by her futuristic warrior costumes, too. Compressing several of her biggest hits like “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream” into a medley proves similarly frustrating. Why would she not perform signature songs in full?

The best moments are the ones where all the visual pizazz is dialed back to normal levels and the woman just sings. A particular highlight is a haunting stripped-down version of the ballad “Not Like the Movies.” Bringing four fans onstage to help with “The One That Got Away” demonstrates her ability to connect with audiences, as do her emotional vocals on “Wide Awake” (from her previous concert doc Katy Perry: Part of Me) that clearly move the crowd. Leaving all the PR missteps behind, she still knows how to put on a high-energy show.

Bombast returns as the concert draws to an end, but it feels more appropriate, given that the closing numbers are the anthems “Roar” and “Firework.” Perry even sits atop a massive butterfly on the former, soaring through the stadium on its back as awed ticket-buyers gaze up at her with tears in their eyes. It’s an image that feels like the classic Katy Perry, as opposed to the awkward lightsaber duel or the fight against a tentacled monster.

Aside from the onstage footage, the movie includes a 12-minute prelude showing how the singer prepared for the tour, as well as clips of her beneath the stage, changing outfits in between songs and getting wheeled around on a cart so she can make her entrances on time. Seeing how a production of this size is pulled off provides entertainment.

At the end of the day, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris helped me remember what made the star special in the first place. Most of the songs are good (Sit down, “Teary Eyes.”) and her playful personality is on full display. Only time will tell if she can make a full-fledged comeback to her glory days. For now, this skillfully photographed and edited concert doc is a decent start. If you are or ever were a KatyCat, here’s your latest dose of catnip.