Everyone loves a story about a good girl gone bad – a child of God falling prey to sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Except in Katy Perry’s case, it’s a story of a good girl done good. Her parents – travelling ministers – haven’t disowned her for strutting on stage half-naked, singing about kissing girls and asking in a song to see ‘your peacock, cock, cock’. Grandma Perry just grins that Perry is a ‘show-off’ and Dad is happy that the ministry hasn’t given him the heave-ho.
‘Part of Me’ offers charming insights into Perry’s rise to fame. Filmed during 2011, it captures the highs, lows, flamboyant costumes, rigorous routines and madness of Perry’s touring life. When she becomes the first woman to bag five Number One singles from one album, you’ll feel genuinely pleased for her, and when Russell Brand files for divorce you’ll well up as Perry has a teary wobble before showtime. Surprisingly, what’s most involving is the 3D. I ducked Perry’s whipped-cream gun and jolted when I thought a cinemagoer was climbing on stage during a concert. You may go for the story, but the performances and quirks leave you with an experience.