Review: High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Michelle:

Troy, Gabrielle, Sharpay, and the rest of the  Wildcats are back for their final year at East High School.  In the 3rd installment of Disney’s teen marvel, ‘High School Musical 3: Senior Year’ is once again filled with new songs and one last musical play. Graduating, love-sick  seniors Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) must face the realities of  being  separated by  different colleges, while saying goodbye to old friends.

Disney  would do well  to end this set of movies with  ‘HSM 3’.  I had hopes that Efron  could finally graduate out of this kid-friendly  rumpus and into the likes of ‘Me and Orson Welles’.  That quickly faded when seeing that he and director, Kenny Ortega, would once again collaborate on another musical, the remake of ‘Footloose’. Pity. However, watching Ashley Tisdale’s, Sharpay, in her over-the-top wickedness was  a delight.  It’s bright, giddy dance numbers (think  ‘Grease’ lite…better yet, ‘Beach Blanket Bingo’)  definitely wont disappoint its core 6 – 16 audience.

[rating:3.5/5]

Ram Man:

I’m sure you’ve  heard the phrase “Go out with a bang!”, Disney is doing just that with the final installment of it’s High School Musical franchise ‘High School Musical 3: Senior Year’. The Wildcats from East High are back and singing their way through the final year of school.  Zac Efrom (Troy), Vanessa Huggins (Gabriella), Ashley Tisdale (Sharpey ) and Lucas Grabeel (Ryan) all return to reprise the roles they have made famous with the kids.  I had not seen the previous two installments, so not to be confused, I brought an authority to clear up any confusion I may have. Jenny Jones, 15, from Mehlville High School…the city’s HSM authority was helpful in giving me the background of the characters and bringing me insight from the high schooler’s point of view.

HSM3 kicks off with Troy and the boys mounting a courageous comeback on the basketball court to win the  state title for East  High. This was all a product of a good halftime speech and one of Jenny’s favorite musical numbers from the film “Now or Never”. Following the game, the senior class begins to face the realization that they must go their separate ways (no sorry no journey medley here). Gabriella has been excepted to Stanford’s Freshman Honors program, Troy and Chad (Corbin Bleu)  have been given scholarships to U of A   (Univ. of Albuquerque) and all of them are looking at a full ride to Julliard in New York.

Following the big game Troy and Gabriella continue their “romeo and Juliet” romance, while Gabriella tries to tell Troy that she is leaving before Prom and graduation for College. As a final blast for the year, all the seniors (the main cast) plan the musical to end all musicals. This is just what Sharpey Evans(Tisdale) and brother Ryan (Grabeel) need to cement themselves in the East High history and propel them to the lights of NYC  with a free ride to Julliard. As the end grows near Gabriella leaves for Stanford, with Troy alone for Prom and trying to choose a college career in Basketball or acting. He also must find away for the rest of his body to function with his heart in California with Gabriella.   This is Disney, so after a few Broadway-esque numbers like “The Boys are Back”, “Can I Have This Dance?” and “I Want It All” the boys get the girls and the senior class graduates in HSM style.

This is the “Grease” of today’s generation. HSM3:Senior Year is a great film for the entire family. Kids from 5-15 were dancing in the aisle and applauding after each number. Parents, it’s even entertaining enough for you to enjoy it with your kids..and maybe ..even have you tapping a toe or two yourself! Jenny and I got together and she graded it out as the best of the three with an 8/10, but we are on a 5 scale here at the Geeks so I scaled it back to a 3.75 (-.25 for a couple of so-so songs). This should be the number one film this weekend at the box office,so treat the kids to some fun this weekend and catch ‘High School Musical 3:Senior Year” that is if you can get a ticket!

[rating:3.75/5]