Wednesday, August 15, 2007 High School Muscial 2: The Verdict
I have just stepped away from viewing High School Musical 2, the second installment to last years incredibly popular Disney production. Some of you may recall that I quite enjoyed the first movie, so was quite eager for the arrival of its sequel. Without giving away anything of importance to the films storyline (!!), here are a few points I scribbled down. Points about the movie in question. Shall we dance?
* First of all, what is up with that Taylor chick? You know, the black girl playing a 16 year old, but looks like she is not a day over 68? Her. Every time she appeared on screen I was worried for her safety. Where was her pacemaker? Did they provide her with wheelchair access on set? I mean, how on earth did they expect her to get around? I am alarmed, but sadly not surprised that Disney would allow their employees to work in such dangerous conditions.
* There is a sort of song-battle-off between Troy and Chad during "Work This Out." IS IT WRONG I THOUGHT OF EMILY OFF-OF BIG BROTHER DURING THIS SCENE?
* I am convinced everyone has had severe makeovers since the first film. Vanessa Hudgens has had dramatic hair surgery, and the geeky piano chick now has locks ala Shirley Temple.
* She is even sporting one of Fergie's strategically placed ghetto caps. Oh no she di'ent!
* If Sharpay and Ryan's parents are so bloody loaded, why the hell are their children enrolled in some shitty public school?
* Ryan, an educated rich boy, insists on wearing his trademark cap during a, hem-hem, poignant scene within a fancy restaurant. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, that was terrible manners. IS THE CAP SUPPOSED TO BE SOME SORT OF CENTRAL MOTIF? Is this a deliberate call on the movies behalf to draw your attention to the mise en scene? Even with my extensive and fresh knowledge within the subject of film studies, I AM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD DO THIS. There are CHILDREN watching this movie! Why are Disney teaching kids it is okay to wear a hat at the table? Walt Disney is spinning in his fucking grave right now I can tell you that.
* Who knew that the ultimate battle between Gay & Straight would go down in a Disney movie and, for that matter, on a baseball pitch? A League Of Their Own is now no longer the only movie dealing with a bunch of homosexuals trying to succeed in the manly world of baseball.
"I'm singin' to Nelson! Aint I baby?"
* There is a totally awesome 'bitch got served' moment, which will make any fan of the regular servings dished out on One Tree Hill very, very proud.
* The first good song comes in at the 1 hour and 16 minute mark. It is a ballad that is probably only any good in comparison to the films earlier and considerably more terrible songs.
* Just like in the first movie, Troy's solo is the film--and soundtracks--best moment. "Bet On It" is the kind of stuff the Backstreet Boys would have creamed their leather pants for circa-1995. Brilliant stuff. Even more brilliant, Zac Efron totally channels Shakira in the "Whenever, Wherever" clip during this number. Oh I am serious.
* It takes an hour and 30 minutes for Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay) to display some of the comical genius she throws forth in the Disney television show Zach & Cody's Suite Life. For the earlier hour and 29 minutes, she is a right fucking cunt and I can guarantee you will want to kick her fair and square in the vulva just like I did.
* There are two (2!) uses of a wind machine. Very good.
* The closing song is okay, but it's certainly not up to par with other musical grand finales...
So, after all that nonsense, what do I actually think of the film? Here's a time line to answer that question.
* At 32 Minutes I thought I was in hell. Very disappointing start.
* At 58 Minutes, I began to enjoy the movie.
* By the 1 hour & 45 minute mark, I was left quite happy and uplifted.
So in summary, it was good, but nowhere near as magical as the first. The soundtrack for this really upset me; very naff and all-round terrible to the senses. Bar the two I've already mentioned, the songs were actually quite grating and fairly annoying to sit through. Some of you may laugh and say that was probably the case for the first one, but I really DID love the soundtrack from the first installment and was very disappointed to find the second just did not deliver the goods.
Worth a watch but probably only for those of you who were able to love/enjoy the first. If you barely stomached it, stay away from the sequel; there's nothing new to see here.
9:12 AM | Trash Addict said... I'm addicted to High School Musical. I desperately want to own Ryan & Sharpay's tinsel covered ladder from the original! Can't wait to see the sequel. It sounds right up my trashy alley!
