Sunday, March 01, 2009

2/23/09: High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

DISNEY WEEK
The HSM franchise snares its first theatrical release with its second sequel, and my prediction proved true—Disney presented HSM3 on its big screen in the Buena Vista Theater on the Wonder cruise.

Now seniors, the Wildcats of East High are pretty much grownups by this entry, and trying to figure out what comes after graduation. Main protagonists Troy and Gabriella—the young lovers who have barely even kissed—must deal with the grim prospect of going their separate ways when college whisks them away; there's also the requisite school musical to be staged, with the usual interference from Sharpay (with assistance from a hot new British exchange student). The second HSM sequel is nicely constructed and perfectly enjoyable, yet somewhat more forgettable than its predecessor. The best moments are the song-and-dance numbers, including Sharpay's "I Want it All" and the Troy/Gabriella duet "Can I Have This Dance?" And the look on Shar's face near the end, when she realizes she's been living the plot of All About Eve, is priceless. Rating: 4/5.

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