Revived Menudo Gets No Better With Age

It’s not often that you get to see a stunning show by a terrible act, which is exactly why El Reencuentro’s extravagant concert Friday at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim was memorable in a twisted sort of way.

A 15-years-later revival of the teeny-bopper sensation Menudo, El Reencuentro plays bland Latin pop. Though an attempt to funkify the old hits was clear Friday, there’s still only so much you can do when the material lacks inspiration to begin with.

And the idea of seeing six grown men dancing and singing to the same happy-go-lucky tunes that were meant to be performed by 14- or 15-year-olds sparks an unavoidable sense of malaise. Think of “This Is Spinal Tap” remade as a Disneyland attraction.

El Reencuentro’s attempts to offer a spectacular show were successful at times, however, if only for the sheer amount of energy the sextet has to offer. And there was something endearing about the sight of member Ricky Melendez (who these days has a career as a lawyer in his native Puerto Rico) trying to follow the demanding dance routines with the awkward sincerity of Rick Moranis in the movie “Parenthood.”

Plus, these sly Menudites have gathered an impressive array of competent musicians to back them. Four male backup vocalists, a horn section, two guitarists, two keyboardists and a pair of solid, powerful percussionists enhanced the sextet’s sound.

Interestingly, the most genuine moment of the evening came when the boys stopped dancing frantically and took turns performing ballads such as “Chiquitita” and “Lady” in an unplugged, so to speak, segment.

Otherwise, substance of the musical kind was largely absent. Although El Reencuentro managed to put together a muscular concert, its contribution to the sensuous, bittersweet arena of Latin music remains negligible.