High School Musical: Does It Make The Grade?
This summer marks the convergence of two much-anticipated kid-oriented cultural touchstones: the publishing of the last Harry Potter book and the debut of High School Musical 2 (HSM to its devotees), the sequel to the original Disney blockbuster. To give you an idea of just how wildly successful HSM is, since bursting into ‘tween consciousness a mere 18 months ago, it’s been seen by 200 million TV viewers. And Disney projects profits from the HSM franchise (think both movies, a DVD, CD concert tour, etc., etc.), of $100 million by the end of this year.
What's the score with this thing anyway? In the interest of research, I tuned into a screening of the original HSM the other night on TV. Quite frankly, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Not only was the media hyping this new flick ad nauseum (there was even a big article in the Wall Street Journal about it this past Thursday), two people whose taste I trusted and admire: one of my preferred chick flick viewing pals (and mom of a daughter in that targeted ‘tween demographic) and an acquaintance, an actor now in the avant garde Broadway sensation Spring Awakening, both gave it good buzz. And while the latter was polite but not particularly enthusiastic about its artistic merits, he did admit to humming the movie’s songs repeatedly when he first saw it. Another reason for my interest? As the mom of a past local high school musical participant and current professional actor-in-training, I was curious to see this rite-of-passage writ large for the TV watching public.
So. I made it through the first half hour, after which the hubby came home and made some snarky comments about taste levels sinking to an all time low. My final verdict? Cute but cloying, and just perfect for the preteen set. Yes, of course, I liked its message of breaking out of one’s often self-imposed box and the importance of trying new things. And from what I can remember, the whole high school clique thing and its attendant drama was pretty much spot on. Still and all, I guess you have to be a 13-year-old – or the mom of one – to make it all the way through the movie in one sitting.
PS: Have you (or your kids) seen it? And, if so, what’s your take on why it’s so popular?
Comments
Oh my. Ad nauseum ... and my 8 yo daughter and 5 yo son cannot get enough of it or HSM2 (which is way worse). The only thing I can compare it to is Grease for their generation. The songs are VERY catchy (hubby and I catch ourselves singing them all the time) and it is a feel-good story. (Not so with HSM2, though.)
Oh -- and brave you, for asking us to respond. I'm surprised your comment list isn't bursting already! (But it will be ... :-)
Haven't seen it, don't really want to but feel like I will because I NEED to know about the buzz.
My 6 yo son loves, loves, loves both HSM and HSM2. They are cute and have a good message in both. The songs sink in w/out you even being aware. I sat at work all day yesterday singing in my head.."What time is it..." For the record, my 9 yo son HATES it! LOL! :)
O-kay. I think I am seeing a common thread here. Maybe that the big HSM fan base is not preteen, but single digits in age? If so, I am starting to understand its popularity. It's like "Seventeen" magazine. By the time you're 17, you wouldn't be caught dead reading it. Is that the case here: a preview of high school life that no self-respecting high schooler would ever watch? What do you think? Laurie
Great minds think alike! I also wrote about High School Musical 2 this week. Strangely enough, a lot of my twentysomething friends watched it this weekend and got really into it. They never satisfactorily explained its appeal to me.
Good site! Good resources here, All the best!
I loved HSM and am surprised with your yen for chick flicks and feel good movies that you didn't love it too. It made me smile and at the end of a long, hard day, that's worth a lot!
My kids (13 & 15) loved it. Why do cynical parents have to make jaded comments about wholesome entertainment?
It's refreshing to have a wholesome show that entertains all 4 of my kids from ages 4 - 13. The characters are totally loveable, the songs catchy, and yes...all of my kids are watching and rewatching to learn those great Zach Efron moves! No bad language, no sexual innuendoes. Overall - great family fun. (Although I did think that the "Bet On It" Troy Bolton dance was a cheesy flashback from Footloose or Grease)!
We watched HSM. I'm sorry. It was bad. It was a waste of time. I can't believe we didnt' turn it off (my teens wouldn't let me, although they didn't love it either)
