Dir. Kenny Ortega, US, 2008, 100 mins
Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Ryne Sanborn
Review By Michelle Moore
This is the first “High School Musical” film to be made for the big screen, so if you and/or your children loved either of the first two movies in their television format, then you will fall head over heels in love with this third instalment. And even if you haven't previously seen the first two films, this one stands up on its own, barely touching on what's gone before, so it is no problem to keep up with the story. There is also an important difference with this film as compared to the previous two, in that Senior Year takes on a much more mature cast, things have been spiced up a little and the dance routines are a little raunchier, making it likely that older viewers will find it much more appealing than the previous two.
The Wild Cats are now seniors, with University becoming a big issue, so they face a lot of tough decisions ranging from basket ball, to prom, another musical and the prospect of being driven apart by distance.
One of the most im press ive things about this film in comparison to the previous two is the imaginative staging and build up to the tunes. With a combination of bouncing cars, 360-degree moving walls, full on cabaret dance routines, basketballs falling from nowhere and lightening making a striking presence, it is quite remarkable how much more this film is driven by ingenious ideas and full blown scene setting rather than small narrative based backings for songs.
Senior Year sees a return of all the same characters, each a little more mature and open to the new ways of life coming their way. Gabriella (Hudgens) realises there is a big wide world out there waiting for her; Troy (Efron) comes to a settlement over his life goals and his girl; Taylor (Coleman) puts a friend to the test; Chad (Bleu) finally puts his heart into something other than basketball; Jason (Sanborn) actually graduates; Ryan (Grabeel) becomes an individual and begins thinking for himself and Sharpay (Tisdale) finally finds her match. As well these familiar faces you will find a couple of new ones. There is a Troy wannabe in the form of up and coming basketball star/Emo look-a-like Matt Prokop as Jimmy ‘Rocket Man' Zara and Sharpay wannabe Jemma McKenzie-Brown as Tiara Gold.
None of us can help but sing and dance along to songs created for High School Musical and this instalment has probably the most infections songs you will hear. There is a darker, rockier edge to many of the songs, which adds to the more grown up personalities the cast project towards the crowd. There is a first in the form of ‘The Boys Are Back', a duet between Chad and Troy, there is of course Troy 's solo ‘Scream', Sharpay and Ryan's majestic ‘I Want It All' , one of the concluding song ‘High School Musical'.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year is the most enjoyable film that this year has bought so far and I am betting for the rest of the year to come. If you like sing-a-long friendly tunes, amazingly energetic dance routines and performances by some terrific young stars, then this is the film to get the children along to see, Even if it is only an excuse to see the film yourself.
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