This is it

Directed by Kenny Ortega. PG cert, gen release, 112 min

THERE ARE precedents. Not long after Lenin died, his record company embalmed the body and invited acolytes to enter a darkened room and pay silent homage

Mind you, unlike Sony, the Soviet government did not charge Lenin fans €10 for the privilege.

As you may be aware, This Is Itcomprises indifferently edited footage of Michael Jackson's rehearsals for his proposed series of London concerts, intercut with brief, nauseatingly adulatory contributions from dancers and musicians.

So some bass player will drone on about "inspiration" and "musical genius" and then, barely recognisable through the video fuzz, a casually dressed Mr Jackson, saving his voice for the real thing, will mutter his way through Man in the Mirrorwhile lighting designers swoon as if witnessing the massed resurrection of the dead.

If you want confirmation that the supporting players are sincere in their homage, study the bottom left-hand corner of the screen during Jackson's quasi-performance of Black and White. One of his employees, almost hidden in the chiaroscuro, presses his palms together like an attendant cherub in a Botticelli painting. Eugh! The project is creepy, tacky and morally suspect. In other words, it strikes just the right tone for a Michael Jackson tribute.

To be fair, This Is Itdoes offer some revealing footage of Jackson – perfectly healthy looking, incidentally – discussing his art with various colleagues. His voice less nervy than in interviews, his focus impressively acute, the macabre figure of tabloid caricature is transformed into a serious pro going about his business. On this evidence, his efforts may well have delivered a pretty invigorating blend of Nuremberg and Vegas. Those who bought tickets would have got their money's worth.

But we're not looking at that show. We're looking at a preliminary sketch for the final work. We're listening to somebody tell ushow that spectacular may have turned out. In short, This Is Not It. Staring at dead communists is more fun.