AP Photo”High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is the latest film in Disney’s popular series.The movie works, although it is much better as a comedy than a drama. The plot makes no sense and introduces stupid characters, perhaps to take the place of the main cast for “High School Musical 4.”
The story moves between “real life,” where the cast is stressed out about graduating, and their spring musical, creatively titled “Senior Year.”
Troy Bolton, played by Zac Efron, has to choose between basketball, theater and his girlfriend Gabriella Montez, played by Vanessa Hudgens.
Efron’s acting is improving; his sad faces are becoming less ridiculously laughable and more relatable. Hudgens, on the other hand, is boring to watch as a girlfriend trying to choose between her dream college and her love. Chad and Taylor, or the BBFs (black best friends) are woefully one-dimensional characters, but Corbin Bleu makes the most of his role and acts much better than he did in the previous films. Monique Coleman barely acts, which is okay because she is the character no one really cares about.
The movie focuses on Sharpay and Ryan Evans, played by Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel. Sharpay, the only character who has any sense, tries to take the lead from Gabriella (please, she is a terrible singer). Ryan is a joy to watch as usual, but is unconvincing when he asks a girl to the prom. I know Disney is trying to keep this under wraps, but … Ryan Evans is a homosexual.
Musically, “HSM3” has the potential to be the best yet, however it is bogged down by slow and sappy numbers between Troy and Gabriella. Hudgens’ voice, by far the worst of the cast, is featured far too often. The other songs are great to listen to and even more fun to watch.
The best song overall is “I Want it All,” performed by Tisdale and Grabeel, with choreography that pays homage to musical classics such as “Chicago.” The best dance moves award is shared by Bleu and Efron as they dance in the junk yard to “The Boys are Back.” Despite the fact that Efron thinks it is okay to wear a bandana and that the song is, embarrassingly, about pretending to be a superhero, the two sound good and dance fantastically. More importantly, the song highlights the best relationship in the film: the bromance between Chad and Troy.
The scene to watch however, is the angsty song “Scream,” where Troy Bolton, who appears to be tripping on acid, fights in a basketball thunderstorm (really – the sky rains basketballs and lightning) and tries to find out who he really is. The scene is hilarious, and it’s nice to see Disney chose to waste money on really bad CG instead of writers.
The movie serves its purpose. It was meant to entertain, and that it does. Many critics point out the lack of substance. That’s not the point. People love “High School Musical” the way they love cotton candy. It’s sweet and fluffy, then melts away. Furthermore, in a generation where people choose to watch “reality” television, where women where skanky clothes and fight over old men, and where teenaged brats throw million dollar parties and drive Escalades, it’s a relief to watch something like “HSM3.” Life would be better as a high school musical than a sweet 16 bash anyway.
Everdeen Mason can be reached at [email protected].
