There are two ways to look at Michael Jackson’s big screen B-roll dirge, “This is It.”

One, it’s a fitting and touching documentary tribute to the late pop icon that hints of what could possibly have been the greatest live stage performance ever.

Or two, the movie is only slightly classier than stringing up Jacko’s corpse by its wig and making him perform a post-mortem marionette moonwalk.

I guess I’m caught somewhere in the middle.

I was captivated by the unique perspective “This is It” gives viewers, a raw inside peek at frenetic rehearsals in anticipation of Michael Jackson’s 50-show stint at London’s O2 arena that never was. The massive scope of the spectacle’s effects and production details was jaw-dropping, and Jackson the performer was a humble perfectionist who definitely still had “it,” both the musical pipes and fancy footwork.

But a few things just don’t add up. First – similar to the London shows – the movie’s theatrical release seems like it could be inevitably extended to pack everyone’s pockets. “This is It” is scheduled for a two-week release, but distributors are leaving the door open to go “Titanic” with this thing and keep it on the marquee until the letters rust off. Second, a whopping 90 percent of the movie’s profits go to the Jackson estate, which could include everything from paying off the entertainer’s massive debts to providing for his children... to buying a time-travelling spaceship for psychic sister La Toya. And finally, there is the release date. When the biggest stage number is a rebooted "Thriller" number, and it’s coming out the week of Halloween, it seems more like a marketing plan than cosmic serendipity driving the project.

If “This is It” is a money grab, I don’t blame Kenny Ortega, the man steering the show and the movie, the latter of which he was reportedly reluctant to release to the big screen in the wake of Jackson’s midnight passing. In fact, there was supposed to be backstage rehearsal footage incorporated into a “This is It” movie, but it was slated to be a direct-to-DVD release. Ortega appears to be a calming presence over what could have been more of a hoopla. The Emmy-winning producer and choreographer chose not to incorporate some shock and awe scenes of the cast and crew mourning. And on the O2 set, Ortega changes gears between kissing the King of Pop’s ass and squashing any potentially diva moments.

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Certain prolific personalities have a strange way of sticking around after the Grim Reaper calls their number at the deli counter. Vladimir Lenin’s actual corpse is still allegedly hung up in a Red Square mausoleum for tourists to pose next to. Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams’ head is kept in a cryogenic chamber. And now Michael Jackson’s last dance with death can be enjoyed with popcorn and a Coke. Oh sorry, Pepsi…now I have to buy 173 tickets to “This is It” to avoid getting sued by Tito Jackson.

"This is It," checking in at 112 min., is rated PG. Mike gives the movie 2.5/4 stars.

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