Movie Review: High School Musical 3 - Senior Year - Page 2

Most despicably, HSM 3 tends to over-exaggerate its high school stereotypes. Troy is screamingly popular and practically the epicenter of every major school event. Gabriella is an unabashed genius, and Sharpay is an outright snob with a double-sized, purple, princess locker. Even when Troy has an old shabby pickup truck, Gabriella is paired with a jock, and Sharpay shows a vulnerable side, it doesn’t make the characters more humble and human. Where are all of the loners, the Goths, and the majority of the in-betweens? Director Kenny Ortega’s East High is neither an “after-school special” illustration of high school, nor a diverse, lifelike depiction.Most honorably, Senior Year tackles the overwhelming senses of urgency and confusion associated with graduating from secondary school. Rightfully, the emphasis is placed on not being able to slow down the process or press the pause button on life. As the students are forced to steer their own ships blindly and somehow avoid crashing into the shoreline, difficulty arises in selecting a college/major that makes everyone happy. In these trying times, the stage serves as an excellent source of discovery.

While on stage, the leads share in favorable singing of “A Night to Remember,” “Just Wanna Be With You,” “Senior Year Spring Musical,” and “We’re All in This Together (Graduation Mix).” Off-stage, Sharpay and Ryan succeed with “I Want It All” in the cafeteria, as Troy and Gabriella glide in “Can I Have This Dance” on East High’s rooftop. On the other hand, the off-stage tunes are largely spontaneous, far from reality, and unmemorable. Consider when Troy and Chad deliver a throwaway number in “The Boys Are Back,” Gabriella fails with “Walk Away” and Troy bombs with “Scream.” Nevertheless, the picture ends well with the all-inclusive “High School Musical.”Amongst all of its songs, lines, and even familiar ringtones, remember Kelsi’s words: “High school wasn’t meant to last forever.” With that said, HSM has finally come to a close — at least with these characters. So, to every ten-year-old girl: wipe that tear away from your eye, and be prepared to continue growing up with a High School Musical: The New Class, a College Musical, or even both.

Article Author: Brandon Valentine

Brandon Valentine is a film critic from Hershey, PA. Aside from possessing the last name “Valentine” and living in “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” Brandon was also born on Valentine’s Day. That’s right, a Valentine born on Valentine’s Day. …

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