High School Musical is the phenomenon that surprised America. Thanks to brilliant marketing and cross-promotion, this Disney Channel Original Movie has gotten not only big ratings, but big record sales as well. The soundtrack, released back in January, has sold more than 800,000 copies and has made its way to No. 1 on the Billboard Albums Chart twice.
With all the success that the film and its soundtrack have had, there was one lingering question in my mind… is the movie any good? Fortunately, the answer is yes. High School Musical is a fun movie that puts its own spin on the stories seen in classic musicals.
The film begins on New Year's Eve, when Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hutchinson) meet at a party. The two somehow end up singing karaoke together and they connect. Unfortunately, they lose contact with each other at the party with only cell phone pictures to remember each other by.
Troy is the star player on East High School's basketball team, a team his father also coaches. When he returns to school after winter break, he's surprised to find that Gabriella is a new student at his school (and in his homeroom). The two reconnect and both seem interested in the school's new musical, much to the chagrin of sister/brother duo Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel). Troy and Gabriella audition together and earn a callback. The two of them sneak off to practice whenever they can and that draws suspicion from Troy's best friend (and fellow teammate) Chad (Corbin Bleu). Chad later teams up with the head of the Academic Decathlon team (of which Gabriella's a member) to attempt to break the two up and make them focus on their "real" activities. However, things end in the nice way that Disney films do.
I enjoyed this movie. Although a lot of elements of this film are familiar, I liked how it attempted to make them feel a little fresher. Most movies make the differences between the boy and the girl the conflict, whether it's families or gangs. However, instead of relying on that tried-and-true set up, High School Musical gets its conflict mainly from the idea of doing something different from what people expect. It's not the fact that Troy and Gabriella are together that is really a problem for their friends, it's the fact that they are doing something different taking their focus away from what they "should" be doing.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mary K. Williams
Ster-
My son LOVES this movie. He can't wait for it to come out on DVD - he's 11 and many of his friends are crazy about it too. We already got him the soundtrack - and its on his iPod as well. I'll have to show him this review. Thanks!
2 - Victor Lana
My daughter is in love with this film. I actually wrote a review about a month ago but never posted it (thinking who would care about this on BC). I might reconsider posting now.
We recorded three different versions of this film (which I assume will come on the DVD). One is the regular movie, one a sing-a-long version, the other a dance-a-long version. My daughter's favorite is the regular movie and she is in love with Troy (Zac Efron).
I believe I read somewhere that one of the songs went to number 1 as a single, and some of the others are on there too. I don't know how the soundtrack has done as an album, but I figure pretty well.
3 - Leslie
I have had to sit through this movie 3 times on account of my 13 & 14 year old daughters!! As far as Disney movies go it's cute, chic & the music and choreography were well done. I'm not sure I could watch it a fourth time though!
4 - clarissa
my daughter Absolutly loves that movie and the soundtrack! she is now waiting for the second movie to come out in 2007 of next year.I myself loved it! since my daughter watches it almost everytime it comes on i will sometimes watch it w/ her too. The choreography is awesome! i wish i had known that kind of stuff back when i was a kid. i happen to be 22 and still watch that stuff.That movie was GREAT!!!!!
5 - Jenn
Hey!! I am in highschool and everyone in my school knows this movie. Since I am in the drama club, all of the kids know the songs, and we dance it out on stage. This movie was amazing and was a huge hit!! It was also really cool that on the soundtrack they have kareoke music so I can sing to the song by myself. I love this movie!! I can't wait for it to come out on DVD and I can't wait for High School Musical 2!!!
6 - Tj
I love the movie so much can't wait to see it again.
7 - chantal stone
This is such a great movie....my kids LOVE it, and surprisingly, my husband and i loved it too! what a surprise that this little Disney flick would make such a huge impression on people of all ages.
8 - Joanie
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
9 - Sterfish
Victor: I hope you do post that review. It'd be good to hear another take on this movie.
Joan: Cool!
Finally, check out this story at Jim Hill Media. Apparently, Disney has a lot more in the works for High School Musical than even what I mentioned in my review.
10 - Victor Lana
The stars of this movie were all over the morning TV shows today. There will be TWO sequels and more importantly a "tour" during the summer.
When Matt Lauer introduced them on Today he jokingly said, "Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles." From the reaction of the crowds around 30 Rock, he wasn't far from wrong.
11 - Maddy
I was totally going to review this, but was too lazy. I LOVED THE MOVIE. Your review is pretty accurate. The movie suprised me. I didn't want to watch it, but my sister made me. Now, I'm obessive. :)
12 - Mary K. Williams
oh Crap Victor - why didnt' you call me! If my son finds out - he'll kill me for not taping it!
13 - Rakib
I live with my baby sisters and they love the movie. I saw the movie couple of times with my entire family and I say movie is really good. Overall 5 stars.
14 - Adeline
This movie was great, i saw it advertised when i was babysitting, and i watched it on friday, when i got to school on monday all the seniors were talking about it and singing the songs! Everyone who was cool had it on their Ipod. I have never seen a Disney Channel movie become so popular to a private school, even the boys who had sisters liked it and wanted to sing the boys part, maily the basketball scene, it was Great!!!
15 - ovely Lady
i love this movie so much i can not wiat for the 2nd 1 to come out but it really stinks that it's only coming out NEXT YEAR!!!
16 - Matthew Paul
I also loved this movie and I LOVED Gabriella also known for Vanessa!I Really liked the movie because it teaches kids in a way that you should support your friends on the choices that they make not bad choices but good ones like sports or even if he likes a girl or she likes a boy. The only thing I know is its educational and entertaning at the same time.And thats why I like the movie.
17 - Matthew Paul
I also loved this movie and I LOVED Gabriella also known for Vanessa!I Really liked the movie because it teaches kids in a way that you should support your friends on the choices that they make not bad choices but good ones like sports or even if he likes a girl or she likes a boy. The only thing I know is its educational and entertaning at the same time.And thats why I like the movie.
18 - katelyn
heyyy guys high school musical is like the best movie i have evererererer seen!!!!! i love it so much! yea nad i loveeee zac efron! he is so hott! lol! im just a LITTLE upsested o wait did i say a litte i ment A LOTTTTT up to the sky nad back 24782356823750136714856 times upsesed! i love him so much! my room is full of his pictures and everything on my phone is like about zac! lol
19 - katelyn allinder
i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee zac efron i am going to be the future mrs, efron!!! yea i know way more about him then any other girl who thinks they like him more than i do but they do so yeah!
I LOVE U SO MUCH ZAC EFRON! U R MY HERO!
omg i lovee u so much its not even funny! my friends ALMOST like u as much as i do ! lol! kk bi
20 - janelle
I love you zac everyone i know loves you to.I also heard you have tow australian sheperds called "Puppy" and "Dreamer" well i have a australian sheperd cattle dog puppy that is a year and three days old and her name is Keesha!I love her well i guess even more than i love you but that is suprising because I like you alot.
21 - Jon
The "I love Zac Efron club" is working far over time!!!!!!!!!! Whats the big deal with him? Venessa's my lady!!!!!!!!! This is what you crazy girls sound like,I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Zacky!!!!!!!!!!!! He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hot! You idiots!!!!!!!!!!!
22 - Emily
me and my friends saw this movie and now we can't stop dancing were all in this together. we r crazy about this movie!
23 - chrissy
hey i love zac efron and i got to meet him in person and i got his autograph by him and all the stars
24 - Nancy Calvillo
I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL I THINK ITS THE BEST MOVIE ON DISNEY CHANNEL
25 - Nayeli
I CANT WAIT TO SEE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2!