He shakes his bon bon! He lives la vida loca! He probably even bangs, too! But if you're expecting to see or hear Ricky Martin singing the songs by those names, you're going to be disappointed. That's because Europa chronicles the Martin phenomenon as it was in 1997, when his audience was still largely Spanish-speaking and before he recorded his huge crossover hits. And since the bulk of this 70-minute concert-cum-documentary was filmed in Spain (other countries such as Germany, Italy, and France are visited, but most of the actual performances appear to be in front of Spanish audiences), the Puerto Rico-born singer sings entirely in his native language. That doesn't do much to improve the quality of the songs, which are standard-issue pop; only "Susana," with its gentle reggae vibe, and the international hit "Maria," with its catchy "Un Dos Tres!" chant, do much to distinguish themselves. And the truth is that Martin isn't much of a singer in any language. But he's a generous, enthusiastic performer who genuinely seems to love being on stage and to appreciate the adulation and various perks that come with being a pop star. --Sam Graham
