Babysitting and Highschool Musical

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 10:40am

I arrived at my neighbor's home to babysit a 8 year old boy last night. After being briefed on phone numbers, bedtime, and dinner, I was surprised to hear the first words that came out of his mouth be, "Let's watch High School Musical!" me having seen clips from this movie here and there decided to take upon this bold task defying what I had heard on BroadwayWorld.com about this made for TV movie/musical. We popped it in and pressed play. Shortly after starting the film, I heard the kid say, "I watch this movie every day." I was shocked. I mean it had to be something about this movie that kids liked, and I was destined to find out what it was. The lead male, Zac Efron, soon to be Link in the film adaptation of Hairspray, appeared on the screen playing basketball with his father in a winter lodge in the mountains over New Year's Eve. The kid says "See that kid? That's Troy...I wanna be just like him...he's my idol." Oh god...I was scared. Still no music to come. Just corny acting. You know the same 'ole story...the coaching father pushing his son so hard to be the star of the basketball team...yeah I could relate to that...I guess. Skip over to Gabriella. Gabriella apparently is a very intelligent girl, very beautiful girl who is insecure, and consumed in her book. Same old story. I have seen that a billion times. I already knew what was going to happen at this point. Opposites attract. So we skip to an awkward moment between Troy and Gabriella where they sing their first song, the title escapes me...I have to say it wasn't my idea of music...although it did contain a catchy tune, and the little 8 year old boy, Andrew was singing along right with them. Next song is probably the song I am most familiar with, "Get Your Head in the Game". I have to say that the choreography was very nice with this. If you listen to the lyrics they correspond with some of the moves which was somewhat clever. Still the music lacked intrigue and I was bored. I got to the point where I was pushing myself to stay awake...hoping that there would be some big production at the end. Of course, it was all about an audition. An audition that would never seem possible even in a highschool in outer space. An audtion that has costumes, jewled microphones, choreography, props, scenery, lighting, and part of the school watching. This movie was very upsetting. I honestly did not like it...I hated it. The music was awful, the story was not fresh, and it did not seem practical at all. Not to mention the amateur acting job these kids put forward.

On the other hand. This kid really liked it. He was so into it. I know a lot of people say that if it brings kids into the theatre it's all good. This movie was not only a musical to him. It's what made him happy. It brought joy to his life. Which is honestly something I would value at his age. With the upcoming pre-teen and teenage years I would take all the happiness I could get. And to be frank, isn't that what a musical is supposed to do? Bring happiness to us?

That's all I have to say. It may be poorly written, but I hope I am bringing across a point.

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:15pm

High School Musical was written for children. It was not written for the theatre-going audience. I don't see how much more obvious I can make this. I think it's a "breezy" film, but certainly painless. If the music weren't so awful it would actually be a quite good film. The story is cute and the characters are "memorable" particularily for children.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:06pm

Too bad it is painfully obvious that they aren't doing their own singing much of the time. Also, the script was terrible. If that ever became a Broadway show with its book intact, it would win the Special Tony Award for worst book EVER written in the history of theatre.

Oh, and I forgot something! Zac Efron is UGLY! Updated On: 7/21/06 at 01:06 PM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:08pm

"The kid says "See that kid? That's Troy...I wanna be just like him...he's my idol." Oh god...I was scared."

That is scary =O

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:14pm

I won't accuse now because I have yet to prove it but I sware I have seen that written somewhere else.

I will check it out this weekend.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:18pm

Well they are doing their own singing. Zac Efron does not do his own singing in the movie, he is the only person in the movie that doesn't do his own singing, Drew Seely (sp.) sings for him.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:24pm

SweetQ, seen what written elsewhere?

"Well they are doing their own singing. Zac Efron does not do his own singing in the movie, he is the only person in the movie that doesn't do his own singing, Drew Seely (sp.) sings for him."

OK, let me re-phrase...I mean that they don't even look like they are singing live. I know that most people realize that they record it previously and then film afterwards, but they should still try to make the lyrics match up a little. It looks awful!

[Melodramatic5872]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 6:23pm

The scary part for me is one of my friends, who is 14 years old, is OBSESSED with this movie. I'm 13, and I just don't get it. It's cheesy, poorly written, and is an overall piece of crap.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 6:50pm

It's cheesy, awful and contrived.
And I LOVE it. It's fun!