Gabriela and Troy feel something for each other and know the thing that unites them is their passion for singing, something that neither one really knew about before that karaoke night. Despite the pressures of his being the big basketball star and she being a math genius, they try out for the school musical and this sets in motion a series of events that produce some kind of turmoil in the school and the characters’ lives.
Troy’s relationship with his father Jack Bolton (Bart Johnson), who happens to be coach of the Wildcats basketball team, provides additional conflict because he wants Troy to focus on the game. Efron does his best to squint his eyes and show there is internal conflict to deal with besides the external conflict of friends and team. Hudgens has grace and beauty and Gabriela’s one solo, “When There Was Me and You,” shows her walking around a conveniently empty high school, pining for her lost love after their friends set them up to think they have betrayed one another.
At this point the kids (judging from my daughter's anxious reactions) must be really worried because it seems the lovebirds will never get back together again; however, all fears are quickly allayed when Troy goes to Gabriela’s house to try to see her. There is even the obligatory balcony scene. No, Troy does not say “what light through yonder window breaks”, but he does come prepared with a song in his heart and wins back his love.
The musical numbers are smoothly done, with a slick feel of the big musicals of the past combined with a revitalized kind of energy. Ortega takes what he learned in those big scenes in Dirty Dancing and transfers them to the small screen, filling the dancers with a sense of purpose that is found in the fluid movements and athletic choreography.
The school cafeteria number, “Stick to the Status Quo,” depicts all the kids, now released from bondage of pretending to be something else by Troy’s bold decision to tryout for the play, revealing their secret desires. It’s a huge production with a number of solo vocals, but the highlight is when Gabriela slips and dumps her lunch on Sharpay’s shirt. If one is looking for sub-textual references, this shows Gabriela doing as much to change the antiseptic “status quo” in the school as Troy.
One of the funniest sequences involves auditions for the musical, the play within the play that we never see. This brings out some of the odder (and less talented) members of the student body who sing, dance, and mime their way into oblivion as Darbus does her best Simon Cowell impersonation. When Ryan and Sharpay sing their over-rehearsed version of the song “What I’ve Been Looking For,” we cringe for them but are meant to understand that Darbus thinks this is great stuff (that is, until she hears Troy and Gabriela sing an understated and rather beautiful version of the same song).
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - zac efron
i love zac efron hes so hot!!!!!!
2 - i love high school musical
i am upsessed with high school musical it is the best movie ever!!!! i know every dance move from the opening song to the finalie!! I think this is a very fun movie but teaches you to break out of your shell.
im addicted 2 it!!
3 - maddi
zac efron is my boyfriend
4 - Sterfish
Great review, Victor!
5 - Victor Lana
Thanks, Sterfish, I appreciate your review as well. Oh, and thanks to the "cast" for their comments.
6 - Gary
Excellent Review!
I agree with your review of this movie.
I have been a fan of Disney since I was kid.
It's very refreshing to see and hear what an impact it has had on kids as well as adults.
Hats off to Zac, Vanessa, Ashley and Lucas for there work in the movie and also the singing, the soundtrack is great.
Look forward to the next movie.
7 - ERIN
ZACKARY YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MINE
8 - ERI N AND ZAC
WERE GOING TO GET MARRIED ZAC
9 - SHATAY
MY FRIEND ERIN REALLY LOVES YOU SHE SAID THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED WITH HER!
10 - Victor Lana
The enthusiasm for this movie is not surprising to me. My daughter and her seven cousins (ranging from 4 to 16 years of age) all are crazy about it. There is something universally appealing about the formula, though I have heard many adults simply dismiss it as trite or whatever.
This reminds me of what the adults were saying about the Beatles back in 1964 (that they were flashes in the pan, etc.). In matters such as these "the kids" always know better.
11 - Adeline
I wanted to say, great movie. I loved it, i have seen it everytime its great. Im in HS and i have never seen a Disney movie and music get so popular to 17 and 18 year old girls and boys. The boys loved it also( Mainly ones that had younger sisters). Great Movie cant wait till the sequel. I', 15 and all the private schools love the songs!!! keep the were soring were flying in the sequel. It was really great i dont say that often either at least not for Disney.
12 - Sexy Me
OMG...this movie was so good! My boyfriends Jordan and I watched it together and he even loved it! Can't wait to see Zac shake his thang again in the sequal
ILUVUZAC
13 - whitney hook
you have a great movie. i love how you put singing and dancing in the moving because those are my favorite things to do. Troy and Ryan are cute. Gabrilla and Sharpa are very prety. i can't wait to see a nother disney show directed by you.
14 - Vanessa
My friend Paula is obessed with High School Musical and she loves Zac efron so much she nkows everything about Zac efron. Mostly everyone in my school loves High school Musical and at my school we have a talent show and mostly everyone singing or dancing the moves to High School Musical.
15 - Jennifer Matthews
I love Zac Efron so much and I think that the movie is so great!I know all the songs and dances to the movie! and my brother is obsest with Ashley Tisdale so much its not even funny!!! But i love ZAC EFRON he is so HOT and so FINE!!!!
16 - demi
zac efron is not hot at all good charlotte is so much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 - Jennifer Matthews
ok good charlotte doesn't suck or anything but my friend here is just not Zac's type you know what i mean. I LOVE ZAC EFRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 - Chelsea
IThink Zac Efron Is So Hot! Who Ever Insluts Him Is Not My Friend. They Would Be My Arch Enmy.Oh My Gosh He Is So Hot. My Friend Lauren Is Obsessed With Too. How Could Anyone Not Be? He Is Totally My Man!
19 - Joanie
Congrats! This review has been placed on Advance.net
20 - Victor Lana
Joanie, thanks for letting me know.
21 - -E
Congrats again Victor! This has been selected as an Editor Pick for the week.
22 - Victor Lana
Thanks, Erin, I always appreciate being included as an Editor's Pick.
23 - abby
zac efron is mine. he's mine. i don't like what this chealse girl is doing no way she can never have a chance with him he is my hottie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and no one elses but mine .
24 - sofia
hi my name is sofia!i love your movie.i am your 1rst fan.
25 - Victor Lana
Judging from what I read here in the comments, Mr. Efron has a bright future for himself. I think the other members of the cast will probably do very well too.