Review of High School Musical (2006) by Noemie C — 15 Jun 2010
(from The Watermark, 09/06/2007).
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 REVIEW.
No, it's not a big-screen film, so it's not really my business to talk about it. But with 17 million viewers, and a third installment in the works for theatrical release in the fall of 2008, I must weigh in. Both HSM and HSM2 are basically the same film: Efron and Hudgens are a flirty pair of kids who decide to perform in a show, and the spoiled drama diva (Tisdale) and her sexually ambiguous hat-wearing brother (Grabeel) try to muck things up. The entire student body pulls together to make everything OK, all ends happily, roll credits. Yeah, it's dismissible, if not at times just plain silly (though thankfully, High School Musical: The Concert is available on DVD, in case anyone does find HSM's plot a little too challenging). Yet, the talent and the energy of the cast, as well as Kenny Ortega's direction and choreography, elevate the work to a higher level. The songs are mostly fun and catchy, and the dance numbers (particularly in part two) are big, splashy, even celebratory -- and why not? Disney has struck gold catering to the teen demographic with lightweight, enjoyable entertainment that is family-safe yet still decidedly modern. Is that such a bad thing?
This review of High School Musical (2006) was written by Noemie C on 15 Jun 2010.
High School Musical has generally received mixed reviews.
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