ZEE'S REVIEWS

29th April 2009
High School Musical (2006)

I adore musicals, and I had high expectations for this one, given that its enormous popularity has spawned two sequels and a stage production. Sadly, I was to be disappointed.

This is the story of the basketball star and the nerdy genius who are drawn together through a mutual love of singing. They attempt to defy social expectations and keep their fledgling relationship alive as they audition for their high school musical.

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens lead a game and diverse young cast. Nonetheless, High School Musical is a movie that perhaps only a twelve year old could love. It is unashamedly enthusiastic but also unbelievably cheesy. Don't look for subtlety here - the characters are drawn in broad brushstrokes, and every story development is telegraphed from miles away.

But the unforgivable thing is how unmemorable the songs are - the heart and soul, the raison d'etre, of any musical. Barely a day after watching it, only one song out of the lot - 'Stick to the Status Quo' - stayed in my head. Not only that, but the performances are obviously prerecorded and heavily edited, resulting in an awkward artificiality that pulled me out of the scene.

If you're looking for a high school musical with great singing and irresistible songs, I would recommend skipping this and checking out Grease instead.

Read Alaris' review of High School Musical (2006).