The HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL phenomenon.

[Q]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 3:48am

So, the third installment of this franchise opens in theaters this weekend, and early box office estimates are causing industry insiders to up their projections from 40 to 60 million for the weekend. I can almost hear the gnashing of teeth as I type this.

I continue to hear the disparaging, condescending remarks concerning this venture, and I have to wonder why? What exactly IS it that some seem to despise? The artistic content? Really? This IS made for YOUNG people, we DO understand that, don’t we?

As far as I can tell – and YES, I’ve seen all 3 installments – some of the themes and ideas presented are:

1. YOU are responsible for your life, so give it some consideration.

2. Sometimes, people outside of yourself (yes, they DO exist!) can play a part in your life’s choices.

3. You don’t HAVE to be constrained by societal/familial pressures and perceived limitations as you live YOUR life.

4. Multicultural and ethnic coexistence is the norm, not the exception.

5. Athletes CAN also be singers and dancers.

6. Sometimes people just break out in song and dance – and that’s ok.

So what am I missing? Why is it such a BAD thing that young people get this option, while they also get presented “Grand Theft Auto 739” (which has become the highest grossing entertainment venture EVER, by the way)? And they seem to be wanting to share their experience with their parents!

And I really have to wonder about parents who are so dismissive of this phenomenon. What is it that they don’t want to have their children exposed to? I realize it’s not something as fabulous as the Barbie Universe, especially as it can be configured into all sorts of representations of adult themes and expressions, but why is it to be dismissed out of hand?

[winston89]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 3:56am

It isn't uncommon for pop music for teweens to come from Disney or nickelodeon. I don't think that the cheesy pop music is good but it is popular. And, High School Musical is something that is chock full of the bad cheesy pop music that tweens go for. I think that it was a combo of the music and the story that made the first one possible and then after that tweens ate anything HSM related up.

[Q]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 4:04am

'Cheesy pop' aside, the themes still exist. While they're oohing and ahing over the pretty people singing the trite songs (of hope and promise, mind you,) they're also getting presented ideas that run contrary to the current state of despair and hopelessness that seems to cage much of the adult population.

I still want to know why that's a BAD thing?!?

[winston89]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 5:05am

Because while the messages might be positive ones (coming from Disney it is no surprise that they are) the quality is very bad. That is why I think people don't like it.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:46am

I love High School Musical. I know it's cheesy, and the 'singing' irritates me, but I've always loved it. I love the costumes and choreography and the way the characters interact (Troy and Chad's friendship is a lot more fleshed-out than most male friendships in movies). I hated the second movie, but I absolutely adored the first and third ones. I did the live show over the summer (as Ms. Darbus), and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I don't see what's wrong with the happy, overly optimistic message anymore than that of Hairspray or Legally Blonde.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:54am

For me, it's not the messages that are bad or anything, I just don't care for them because they just weren't geared towards my age group. Like, to see the first two, I would have had to watch the Disney Channel, which I personally think has bad programming on it now, so why would I choose to watch High School Musical? I actually have seen the first one thanks to a band bus trip, and it was just horrible. I didn't find the singing, dancing, or characters interesting at all.

[James885]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 8:24am

I saw the first movie and just didn't care for it at all. I thought the music was bland and the acting and the plot shallow. Then I saw a high school production of HSM and didn't do anything to improve my opinion. I know it's not geared towards my demographic but I just do not care for the entire franchise.

Updated On: 10/26/08 at 08:24 AM

[killertofu333]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 10:15am

I haven't seen any of the movies, nor can I recall ever hearing the musical numbers. So I guess I can't knock what I haven't experienced, but it's not like I'm running to the theater to "check it out." It just doesn't appeal to me, I love musical theater and the different elements it offers, but HSM just isn't my thing.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 10:36am

I agree with you Q. The movies are aimed at kids. And they are positive themes. My kids love them. And I have to admit, I like 'em too.

[Li'l_Devil]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:25am

I haven't seen any of the films or heard any of the songs so like someone else posted in this thread I'm not going to knock what I haven't experienced. It wasn't geared toward my age group anyway but if it in any way touches someone, makes them happy and teaches them something in the process that's a good thing!

[KathyGriffinLovesYou]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 1:37pm

HSM is soul-killing. I am dead inside because of Zac Efron.

[Weez]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 3:34pm

I'm with anyone who says the HSM franchise isn't all that bad. It's aimed at kids. You'd be an imbecile to expect genius. But it promotes the messages that being true to yourself and supporting your friends are good things, and I can't find it in me to disagree with that. Plus it's TOTALLY a gateway drug. HSM led my niece to 'Hairspray', now she's begging me to take her to see 'Wicked'. As she's only nine, I'd say that's AWESOME. I'll have her turned onto Sondheim before she can legally drink.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 4:03pm

At first I was appalled, but that's because I was looking at it through the critical eye of someone, let's say, "more sophisticated and worldly" (read: "old").

Now I see it as fun, harmless, bouncy entertainment for KIDS, and I can enjoy it. The real eye-opener for me was when I was at a friend's house and her six-year-old, who has never seen a "traditional" stage musical, was singing and dancing in the living room along with every number. I thought, "This is good!"

I'm tired of people saying, "I hate musicals...because I saw one once and I didn't like it." (Someone at work just said this to me recently. He's 59.) I like the fact that it's attracting kids to the musical genre.

[Q]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 4:05pm

"I'll have her turned onto Sondheim before she can legally drink."

That sounds suspiciously like that 'gay agenda' I hear so much about

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 4:15pm

Q, ANY boy who likes musicals is going to grow up to be gay, you know that already.

[TannerONbw]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 5:51pm

So I just got back from the theatre seeing number 3. I thought it was way better than the first 2 in all aspects. If you have seen it, wasn't the staging of the 'prom' song amazing. the way the taxi turns into the dressing room and dare i say it, the song was even pretty good.

[roquat]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 6:50pm

I haven't seen the movies, although I am very curious about the phenomenon myself (I know a 12-year-old girl who performs the first installment by herself in her room EVERY DAY).

I should say, though, that I completely dismiss the "made for kids" argument. I never knew of a really good play, movie, or book geared to children that intelligent adults couldn't also enjoy (E.T., THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE NEVERENDING STORY, arguably the HARRY POTTER franchise). If HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL introduces kids to musical theatre in a "cool" way, that's fantastic, but I'm not going to pretend something is better than it is because "after all, it's just for children." If it's good, EVERYONE should be able to enjoy it.

[Weez]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 6:58pm

Whereas I realise that there is "kids" stuff, that really only works on the youngsters (I mean, really, how much joy can a thirty year old get out of reading 'Dear Zoo' fifty times in a row?), and "family" stuff, which works on multiple levels (the complete picture books of Oliver Jeffers). Family stuff is what you can revisit as the years go by without going "wow, I used to like *that*?", and what spreads out into the world, and what achieves longevity. But that doesn't mean there isn't kids stuff that is geared predominantly to children and has very little appeal for older age groups. Hell, look at the HSM franchise, if you will. :P

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:20pm

"If it's good, EVERYONE should be able to enjoy it."

Roquat, come on. You can't say that about ANYTHING! I know people who didn't like CITIZEN KANE. And GYPSY. And, well, you name it.

When I was 6, I wasn't interested in movies like CASABLANCA (or CITIZEN KANE, for that matter ). Didn't you ever see something as an adult that you loved as a child and wondered, "WHY on earth was I obsessed with this when I was a kid? It's terrible!"

My kids like the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL films, but they also made me get them tickets to see SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center for the second time! There's nothing wrong with something that is tailor-made for children that adults don't respond to in the same way. Or vice-versa.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:42pm

I'm a big fan of the HSM franchise. I thought the latest installment was both entertaining and clever, with nods to "Grease," "West Side Story," Busby Berkley, and the Micky and Judy lets-put-on-a-show musicals. I'm glad that young people and their parents turned out in large numbers this weekend. Many young people might be inspired to explore other film and stage muscicals because of the HSM movies, which is just fine with me.

Updated On: 10/26/08 at 07:42 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:51pm

Frankly, I can't wait to see it. I just didn't want to fight the crowds this weekend.

(We are also very excited to see it because my husband's best friend was the sound editor. I bet the sound is GREAT! )

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:29pm

I think it's a great stepping stone for kids into discovering more about stage and musicals.

And I'm secretly in love with the soundtrack :p

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:40pm

I have two teen girls that are huge HSM fans and I could not be happier about it. A teen movie musical with singing and dancing with positive themes? Why not?

C15 saw it on Friday night with a bunch of friends - male and female - I picked her up at the theatre and they all seemed happy! We had a nice discussion tonight with our home school friends and they also love HSM and find it to be a positive for kids!

[Q]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:58pm

We saw it opening day - at Disneyland! The theater was full of families, and everyone loved it - clapping after each song number, and giving it a rousing ovation at the end!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:35am

I just got back from seeing it. I must say very impressed Mr. Ortega. The musical numbers in general were incredible. Some of those kids are fabulous talent. Ryan and Sharpay's big number was one of my favorite. I felt the numbers were just very inventive. Loved it all around!