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High School Musical 3: A newbie gives it a pass
Questions burned through my head when I introduced myself to the world of High School Musical Thursday night.
Would I be hopelessly lost at High School Musical 3: Senior Year, having not seen either of the previous High School Musicals? Nah, I was fine, although I’m sure I missed a reference or three.
Would I be deafened by the screams of ardent Zac Efron fans? Almost! The squeals of delight started right off the bat with the film’s very first shot: A great, big, fat close-up of Mr. Efron. Sweating. Disney sure knows what sells.
Finally, and most importantly, would I like it, even though I’ve been out of high school for nearly (gulp) 20 years? Yeah, actually, I kinda did.
To be honest, I debated the wisdom of seeing this movie. People who read reviews generally aren’t into High School Musical, and reviews matter little, if at all to High School Musical fans. I could warn people that each theater that plays the film will release anthrax into the air, and the fans would still be there with bells and gas masks on.
And let’s face it, this movie wasn’t made for me. It does not cater to people who count The Umbrellas of Cherbourg among their favorite musicals. Still, as a theater fan, I confess to a curiosity about the whole High School Musical phenomenon, and I knew very well this was the hot movie ticket this weekend, so I decided to see what all the squealing was about.
And you know what? I’m not sorry I did. You certainly won’t catch me watching the film again, but I enjoyed it for what it was: harmless, energetic fluff. It’s the sort of movie former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello might have made back in the day. I especially appreciated that director Kenny Ortega kept a lid on flashy visuals and rapid-fire cutting, which too many modern musicals use as crutches.
As for the star of this movie, I have to give Efron fans props. He is a genuine talent. He is the star of this franchise by a considerable distance, and the movie works largely because of him. He is the only actor to play anything resembling palpable emotion. I wasn’t all that surprised, considering Efron acquitted himself very well in last year’s Hairspray.
The other kids are fine, though not quite in Efron’s league. Vanessa Hudgens has good chemistry with Efron, but her voice sounds too processed. Ashley Tisdale has fun playing the “villain” but I actually preferred watching Oleysa Rulin as Kelsi, the character who writes the songs, who deserves more screen time than she gets.
And the story? It’s pretty much the standard hokum you’d find in the Teen/Young Adult Section of the library. Will the guy ask the girl out on to the prom? Will our lovebirds be separated forever and ever? Is there ever any doubt that every dilemma will be conveniently tied up and wrapped in a bow for the big final number? Not for an eighth-note.
Unavoidably, the movie lays the groundwork for a High School Musical: Underclassmen, if not a College Musical. Cynical types may roll their eyes, but I have to give this franchise credit for one thing: It’s taught a generation of kids that breaking out into song spontaneously isn’t silly or stupid. That much is music to my ears, even if the film isn’t always in tune.
GRADE: B-
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