|
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
 Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale are on the big screen this time, with more expansive musical numbers.
Though the previous two installments were made specifically for television, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" finds the mega-hit franchise moving to movie theaters. The director and co-choreographer of all three pictures, Kenny Ortega, does have a background in theatrical features, as choreographer of such (ahem) classics as "Xanadu" and " Dirty Dancing," while among his previous feature directing efforts is "Newsies," a knockabout musical about an 1899 child labor dispute.
Yet what does the average squealing "HSM" fan care about such details? The central performers ( Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale) have become megastars to the tween set, complete with real-world scandals and gossip. The film's story -- it's senior year, there's a show to put on and colleges to apply to, decisions to be made -- puts them cleanly on display in all their fresh-scrubbed, impeccably lighted and styled glory.
As expected, any romance in the film comes from a distinctly pre-adolescent point of view, in which cuddling in a backyard hammock and a closed-mouth kiss is as heavy as it gets between a boy and girl. As shown in the very first shot of the film -- Efron's face in tight close-up, sweaty and panting -- as well as the astonishing precision of keeping the hemlines of Hudgens' and Tisdale's skirts just so, the film trades in the sort of innocently teasing sex appeal that the Disney brand has specialized in at least since Annette Funicello was fitted for her first Mouseketeer sweater.
The songs in the previous installments playfully jumped from genre to genre, but this time they stay pretty much in a straightforward pop-rock idiom. Ortega and screenwriter Peter Barsocchini obviously enjoy the move to the big screen and try to go bigger and more expansive on some of the musical numbers. Along the way they explicitly name-check choreographer Bob Fosse and give loving nods to such antecedents as the ceiling dance from Fred Astaire's "Royal Wedding," Busby Berkeley's full-scale extravaganzas and the back-stabbing protégé from "All About Eve." Ortega even has the good sense to keep the winking kitsch to a minimum, playing it straight throughout.
As the film ends, some of the kids are heading off to Juilliard, Berkeley, Yale, Stanford and the University of Arizona, but never fear, as there are some new, younger characters introduced in the story to keep the next film (should there be one) with some grounding at good old East High. For those scoring at home, the third entry in the "High School Musical" series is better than the second but doesn't quite sustain the unvarnished, giddy highs of the first.
The "HSM" series has always been playful and high-spirited, with a refreshing emphasis on collective action and the importance of group effort over the individual, and there's nothing in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" to upset the formula. By Mark Olsen - Olsen is a freelance writer and critic. October 24, 2008
High School Musical (#1) Information & Biography
High School Musical is the Disney Channel Movie that has spawned some popular hit songs. While on a New Years Eve vacation, high school hoops star Troy & brainy Gabriela - two teens who are worlds apart - meet.
During a karaoke contest they discover their love for singing and an interest in each other. After vacation, Troy finds out that Gabriela is the new girl at his school. Troy & Gabriela decide to audition for the upcoming high school musical. Troy's best friend Chad and Gabriela's new friend Taylor discourage them from moving forward with their plans. But it's Ryan and sister Sharpay - considered the school's top theatrical talents - who really try to thwart their efforts.
Find out how Gabriela and Troy's decision to audition turns their world upside down!
High School Musical (#1) Movie Guide
TV Rating: TV-G
Genre: Drama/Musical
Runtime: approx. 98 minutes
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Oleysa Rulin and Alyson Reed.
High School Musical (#1) - Guide Review
 A Disney Channel original movie, High School Musical is a true teenage love story. Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) meet on a karaoke stage one night while on vacation. Despite the magical song they sang together, they would probably have never seen each other again. Gabriella’s mom gets transferred, however, and she coincidentally ends up going to the same high school as Troy.
While the two are happy to see each other again, things are a lot different when they are confined by the rigid social structure of high school. Gabriella, known in her last school as a “math geek,” does not seem to fit into Troy’s world of jocks and cheerleaders. The two really cause an upheaval though, when they act on their secret desire to try out for the lead parts in the high school musical. Although many students resent the threat posed to the status quo, Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.
With a very talented cast and a great love story, High School Musical is a huge hit with kids and tweens (ages 9-14). But the movie also succeeds in another way – High School Musical presents the social concerns kids face in a non-threatening, win-win way. Instead of following the usual tactic of the genre and allowing the underdog to prevail over the evil popular crowd, High School Musical brings students together and recognizes each person’s talent and contribution.
High School Musical - Note to Parents**
High School Musical presents a great movie with a strong and uplifting moral. Other than having your girls go gaga over lead star Zac Efron, the only potential concern parents might have is one of the outfits worn by Gabriella. For the most part, kids in the movie are dressed appropriately. In one scene, though, Gabriella sings a solo song and she is wearing obscenely low-cut jeans. By today’s standard, the outfit is very normal, and it is really the only thing of note as far as possibly offensive material.
High School Musical 2 Information & Biography
 TV Rating: TV-G
Genre: Drama/Musical
Runtime: Approx. 120 minutes including commercials
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman
Network: Disney Channel
High School Musical 2 - Plot Summary
School is out for the summer, and the Wildcats are looking forward to some fun in the sun. Sharpay sets her sights on Troy and cooks up a scheme to get him a summer job at daddy's country club in Lava Springs. When Troy gets all his friends, including girlfriend Gabriella, a job there too, Sharpay is incensed. The Wildcats vow to make it the summer of their lives, but spoiled Sharpay vows to catch Troy and get the rest of her classmates fired.
At Lava Springs, Troy and Gabriella are interrupted at every turn by Sharpay's evil tactics. She then uses her father's clout to lure Troy in with promises of meeting important people and possible college scholarships. While Troy gets caught up in all of his new opportunities, his friends get left behind. The final blow comes when Sharpay dumps her brother as her singing partner for the country club's summer talent show and ropes Troy into singing with her instead of Gabriella. She even manges to thwart the Wildcats when they befriend her brother and work on an act of their own.
Oblivious to what she is doing to those around her, Sharpay couldn't be happier about her summer. Troy, on the other hand, realizes that he has some choices to make. Is he really doing what's right for his future, or is the cost he will pay in the present too high?
High School Musical 2 - Guide Review for Parents
It is often said that a sequel can never surpass the original movie, but High School Musical 2 comes pretty close. The movie is fun, the music is great, and like the original High School Musical, it even has a great moral for kids. Sure, we've seen it all before - the characters are pretty much the same and the romantic struggle is similar - but with a fresh new location and an upbeat summer musical score, kids are loving number two as much as the first movie - maybe even more.
Parents seem to be as happy as kids about the High School Musical phenomenon. The movies send a positive message and encourage kids to develop their talents and be themselves. All that, and the content is virtually trash free.
High School Musical 2 - Content Overview
High School Musical 2 is a summertime flick, so there are lots of bathing suits and sleeveless/strapless outfits. Some girls in the movie wear outfits that show cleavage, but nothing trashy or really distasteful. Also, the movie centers around summer romance, and a boy and girl kiss toward the end.
As is expected, main antagonist Sharpay behaves selfishly and uses devious means to get her way. She is spoiled and rich, and she looks down on those who do not have the social status that she enjoys. By the end though, she learns her lesson - again.
Other content that could be of concern to parents centers around Troy and Gabriella, who knowingly break a couple of country club rules. For example, they go swimming in the country club pool at night, even though they know that staff members are prohibited from using the pool. In another scene, they have a picnic on the golf course, realizing they will probably get in trouble if they are caught.
Like the original, High School Musical 2 can be characterized as a musical teen romance with a moral or two. Through the storyline and characters, the movie emphasizes the importance of loyal friendship and encourages kids to value other people and their individual talents.
|
