I do like to watch a cheesy film every so often and this week the one I decided to view was High School Music. I had heard about the film for a while and know that a song from the film was released as a single over here but I just dismissed it as being a cheesy Disney film. Being quite young it is a really cheesy film but it's one of those kinds you can watch on a lazy afternoon and it will make no change to your life but it is happy and easy to watch with no mind work being done. The film was released in 2006 and there is a High School Musical 2 and I'm sure now there's even a third film in production. Having only seen the first I'm not sure how a third will be but we'll soon find out.
This film pretty much begins right away it is New Year's and there's a party going on. Both Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) are on vacation with their parents but there is a party for the younger ones on and there is a karaoke going on. The people pick anyone at random to sing a song and conveniently the two get picked. Of course they look startled at first but as they get on stage both have amazing singing voices and harmonise well together, all a bit cheesy but nothing less is expected with Disney. The two have a bit of an attraction and decide to swap numbers and meet up the next day but they never do. We then go to a scene in a high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico where Troy is popular at school and star of the basketball team.
Later we see that Gabriella is starting this school which is all almost like fate and Troy cannot believe it is the girl from New Year's. Right away in their first class the teacher is announcing the school musical auditions will be taking place but Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and her brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) already have their eyes on the part and have always done it ever since they were younger. Troy is the coach of the basketball team's son and there is no way he could sing publicly he would be humiliated and mocked by his team mates but Gabriella is a bit of a genius and didn't like her last school because that is what she was known as.
Both Gabriella and Troy are from different worlds but she sees a side to him that nobody else gets to see. As it comes to auditions for the musical we see some pretty poor attempts and soon Sharpay and Ryan do their piece and it is quite good and they assume they have the part. However, it might not be as easy for them as maybe this time round they might just have some competition on their hands
The film lived up to my expectations I didn't expect amazing performances but for what it is, I'd say it was quite a good film. I have seen worse teen films and this has some catchy songs and dance pieces as groups. The cast have good chemistry together and the plot although predictable was still ok to pass a few hours. I know a lot of people will hate this and avoid it at all costs but it was an enjoyable hour or so for me and there were even some funny moments in this. I can see a good future ahead for some of the young stars in this film.
Zac Efron I don't know of very well, he seems to be a talented young actor and in this film took on hours of training for dancing as well as basketball to get the part right. He seems to be very dedicated and it shows in his role as his voice is also great for the part and him and his off screen girlfriend/cast mate Vanessa Anne Hudgens have a really nice duet as both their voices are complimentary of one another. At the minute I only seem to hear of Zac for magazines calling him good looking but no doubt he has a good career ahead of him venturing out of Disney projects.
Vanessa Anne Hudgens is also really good; she is a pretty young actress and again has a really nice voice and has all of the dancing perfected. Although her character in this film doesn't really offer much depth apart from being a sickeningly sweet female character who likes the popular boy I think her talent in singing/dancing saves her. Also, I like the fact her and Troy have a special relationship where she sees the other side to him as it makes their on screen chemistry great and shows Zac to have more than one dimensional acting ability.
Ashley Tisdale is a previous Disney channel actress and that is how she got the part for this film. I am not familiar with her Disney acting but in this film she is quite funny as the role of Sharpay. She is almost the villain in this film and is not well liked but wants to remain the only musical star and doesn't want anyone taking it from beneath her. She is quite snobby and doesn't seem to have many friends but in a way she is quite likeable. Ashley did this character really well and the whole look she had and everything made her quite funny but annoying at the same time.
As for the singing in this film, for young people I'd say they all have quite nice voices. Vanessa's vocals are sometimes a bit too youthful and nicey and I sometimes would like her to have more personality with her singing and fierceness in her vocals. Zac has a very soft voice for a male singer and this is how it works well with Vanessa's as hers is a bit more piercing. Vanessa has released an album in the States but I'm not sure if she will here. The duet both did 'Breaking Free' did well in the British charts getting into the Top 10 which for a Disney film song was quite good. The song is ok quite nice, the soundtrack is ok, quite immature though and very Disney and easy to sing along to.
The Making of Feature that comes with the DVD is quite short but it lets us get to know the cast a bit more and to find out about their training practice and how it wasn't as easy as we thought. We also get to see what the cast are like off screen and how they get along and we get to see some original audition footage.
The film is one I would say definitely appealed to a younger audience but then I can't generalise because some older people might just enjoy this too and will happily watch it with their children. It is probably more so a family film with a few laughs, a bit of fun, singing and dancing and a predictable but enjoyable plot.
The film is out on DVD and is available at Play.com for £11.99 that is the special 2 disc edition. It includes the Bonus DVD with music videos, and singing footage. Play.com also sells the soundtrack for £7.99 as well featuring the single 'Breaking Free'.
The film lasts approximately 93 minutes and is a U certificate. The official website is located at http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/originalmovies/highschoolmusical/inde x.html
without the unwholesome habits. Scoring record ratings at the time of its January 2006 broadcast, it's a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appeali...
without the unwholesome habits. Scoring record ratings at the time of its January 2006 broadcast, it's a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appeali...
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens star in this Disney Channel Original Movie as popular
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basketball team captain Troy and smart, stunning academic Gabriella. Both shock the members of the social cliques to which they belong when they each decide to aud...
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