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I will admit
right off the bat that I love Disney films.
I love the old ones every bit as much as
the newer ones. But for some reason, I just
can’t get into a lot of the programming,
especially the movies, that are made for
the Disney Channel. Too often I find the
plots cloying, the acting pedestrian and
the overall quality… just a little
too clean. And I don’t mean clean
as in 'family friendly', I love that, but
more so clean I terms of the look of the
sets and the colors. If you've ever watched
the Disney Channel original programming,
I think you know what I mean.
So back in 2006, when I heard I was going
to review High School Musical, I was less
than thrilled. I expected the usual gaggle
of talentless teenagers dancing and singing
to vapid songs. Visions of many of the videos
that have been included on a lot of Disney's
DVD releases that feature their 'circle
of young talent' singing horrible renditions
of beloved Disney classics came to mind.
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To make matters even worse… High School
Musical boasted record ratings and a bestselling
soundtrack, sure-fire proof that (based on the
average 'tweens taste) it had to be bad.
However, even I… can be wrong. If anything,
over the years I should have learned by now to
never judge a book by its cover, or a made for
TV Disney film by its… well… made
for TV Disney film-ness. When I actually sat down
High School Musical, I found myself tapping my
toes along with the music and (don't laugh) turning
on the DVD's karaoke feature so I could…
uhhh… sing along.
The original High School Musical was a story
about cliques, and those who choose to go against
them. I especially enjoyed this theme because
when I was in High School I was vehemently opposed
to the clique system and refused to pigeonhole
myself into any one particular group. Most of
my friends appreciated my attitude, but there
were a few (who were obviously NOT my real friends)
who just couldn't believe I didn't want to be
a part of their little group. I just had this
thing about being so narrow-minded as to live
the life of any kind of stereotype, which I strictly
adhere to even now.
We were introduced to Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella
(Vanessa Anne Hudgens), who meet by chance at
a New Year's Eve party. During the party, they
end up singing karaoke together. They end up enjoying
it so much that when they meet up again at school,
they strongly consider auditioning for the school
musical. Unfortunately, Troy is the school's star
basketball player and Gabriella is on her way
to becoming a part of the Scholastic Decathlon.
As you might imagine, the very thought of wither
of them trying to be in a school musical warrants
the 'kiss of death' from their 'friends.' Not
to mention they are ostracized by some of the
school's theatre group (another clique to be sure).
I had a similar situation (without the singing
and dancing in the school halls… at least
that I'd admit to) when I was in High School.
I wasn't the star of any sports team or necessarily
a brain, but my family experienced a huge tragedy
at the time that caught the attention of the entire
school. When I returned I was spurned by just
about everyone except my closest friends. I had
always loved the theatre, so I tried to immerse
myself in the drama department. It was a hard
beginning, with everyone staring at me for reasons
other than my being on stage, but my teacher told
me something after my first few months back that
was very telling. We were at a drama competition
and some guys from another school made some snide
comments about my family's tragedy. One of my
classmates put them in their place. Later, my
teacher told me that when I first joined the drama
department, most of the other students had their
reservations about my being there. But she said
that all changed pretty quickly and that there
wasn't a single person in the drama department
that wouldn't stick up for me.
Sorry, I got a little off the subject…
well, not really. What I'm trying to say, and
part of what the movie was trying to teach, is
to not be afraid to go for what you want out of
life, even if it is something as fleeting as being
in a high school production. Don't be afraid to
face your demons, whether they wear the face of
your own paranoia or the faces of your peers.
Peer pressure means nothing and anyone who tells
you otherwise is not your real friend. Be who
YOU are, not who others try to make you be.
In some ways, High School Musical was a little
bit like most Disney made for TV movies, but for
the most part, it was a darn sight better. The
young actors were EXTREMELY talented, not just
painted up dolls (like The Cheetah Girls). They
could really sing and dance, and did both very
well. The songs were very catchy, even the handful
that were a little too much on the 'pop' side.
All that said, 3 years have passed and I have
since thoroughly enjoyed High School Musical 2,
which was every bit as good as the original and
had songs that my daughter and I still listen
to in the car. Now we are here at the end of what
turned out to be fun and entertaining ride. The
popularity of the first two films prompted Disney
to go out on a limb a bit and produce a third
sequel with a budget big enough to deliver it
onto big screens. While I’m not sure that
was the right direction to go, High School Musical
3 is every bit as good as its predecessors.
I did not catch it in theaters, but was front
and center when the DVD was readying for release
last month. Here we meet up with the ‘kids’
as they face the end of their Senior Year. This
is something most of us can identify with as the
uncertainty of the future and the likely loss
of friends becomes a hard lesson about real life.
High School Musical 3 gives these friends the
opportunity to create a last hurrah that they
will remember forever.
Once again, the cast proves that they are anything
but talentless. These performers can sing and
dance with the best of them. The sad thing is
that I’m not sure that this will secure
them a place with Hollywood’s elite, as
musicals are a bit of a passing fad as far as
movies go. However, if they play their cards right
every single one of them could find a place on
the Broadway stage (which honestly as an actor
would be much more fulfilling). Ironically there
is one scene that totally lends itself to proving
the performer’s ability to thrive in that
arena.
But while I’d love to go on and on about
the movie itself, what really caught my attention
were the choices Disney made in releasing it to
DVD. Lately, I’m all about Blu-ray discs,
but I knew to request the DVD version so that
my daughter would be able to play it in her room.
However when the package arrived I was surprised
to find that the set offered a DVD, Blu-ray and
Digital Copy all together. This is a GREAT idea,
which I think more studios should consider while
the transition to Blu-ray takes place. Especially
when it comes to films like these. After all it
gives you the ability to watch the film wherever
you’d like. In the living room if you wanna
enjoy the magnificence that IS Blu-ray, on DVD
for the kid’s room and digitally for those
on-the-go. Kudos Disney!!
Having a complete set like this also allows you
to not miss out on any extra features. Often,
the Blu-ray has more extra features than the DVD
(a marketing ploy that pushes the Blu-ray format)
and this way you have it all. Speaking of extra
features… the set for High School Musical
3 offers up everything from cast goodbyes to deleted
scenes. Of course, there is the obligatory sing-along
(which my daughter and I partake in… when
no one else is home…), Senior Awards and
New Cast Profiles (which I found especially interesting
as I really did want to know more about the talented
cast). I was also glad to see that they included
bloopers, a feature that I am always clamoring
for.
None of the High School Musical films are not
by any stretch of the imagination a big Academy
Award winning movies, and you shouldn't expect
them to be so. But they do offer really fun song
and dance extravaganzas that you can enjoy with
the kids, and if you’re not a prude…
probably just as much as they do.
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale,
Luca Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman
Extras: Senior Awards, New Cast Profiles, BD-Live,
Cast Godbyes, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, Sing Along
Specifications: 1080p High Definition Flash (1.85:1),
English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48kHz/24-bit)
Studio: Disney
Release Date: 2/17/2009
Region 1
MPAA Rating: G
www.DisneyBluray.com
We'll give High School Musical 3 a B+.
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