Some movies are simply considered "review proof." If movie critics were $5 umbrellas, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" would be Hurricane Katrina.
There will simply be no stopping Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the rest of the Disney Channel crew moving to the big screen, and making this Kenny Ortega-directed, Peter Barsocchini-scripted confection into one of the biggest attractions of the movie year. So why get in its way?
Fortunately, we don't have to: The third in what has become a true cultural phenomenon - not just monetarily, but in regards to how an entire generation will view the presumed-dead musical genre - "HSM3" is eminently watchable, occasionally very funny, and sweet enough to give you diabetes. Where it goes very right is in introducing new characters (and performers) who will enable Ortega and company to carry on the franchise, at least through "HSM4" - for which contracts already have been signed.
Ortega is a bit of an imp: The first shot we see is Troy ( Zac Efron) panting into the camera, clad in what looks like his underwear. But no: It's the big game, the score is tied and the Wildcats of East High - the only known basketball power that can do a song, a dance and a fast break all at the same time - will prevail. The bigger question: With Gabriella ( Vanessa Hudgens) going to Stanford, Troy going to the University of Albuquerque and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) and sister Sharpay ( Ashley Tisdale) in line for Juilliard scholarships - how are we going to get the musical in "Musical"?
There are more than 20 songs in "HSM3," and while a lot are pabulum, there's ... well, there's a lot of it. The songs concern the ongoing romance between Troy and Gabriella, and the friendship of Troy and Chad (Corbin Bleu), whose duet, "The Boys Are Back," owes a big debt to "Thriller," just as the ghost of Peter Allen haunts Ryan's dance routine (Grabeel is the best thing in the film).
While Efron has really outgrown this sort of thing, and Hudgens' strong suit is smiling sweetly, it's the newcomers who shine: Playing the comedy twosome of Jimmie "Rocket Man" Zara and his sidekick, Donny Dion, are Matt Prokop and Justin Martin, both of whom seem destined for greatness. So does Jemma McKenzie-Brown, who plays the Eve Harrington role to Tisdale's Sharpay, injecting a little "All About Eve" into a movie that prefers to steal its best stuff from the vaults of vintage MGM.
(G)
LENGTH 1:52
PLAYING Area theaters
BOTTOM LINE Watchable, musical and formulaic, which is precisely the point.
STAR BUCKS
Is the third time always a charm?
Back to the Future 3 (1990) - $87,727,583
Child's Play 3 (1991) - $14,960,255
Final Destination 3 (2006) - $54,098,051
Friday the 13th: Part III (1982) - $34,581,519
The Godfather, Part 3 (1990) - $66,666,062
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - $14,400,000
Home Alone 3 (1997) - $30,882,515
Jaws 3-D (1983) - $45,517,055
Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987) - $44,793,222
Rocky III (1982) - $124,',897
SOURCE: boxofficemojo.com
There are more than 20 songs in "HSM3," and while a lot are pabulum, there's ... well, there's a lot of it. The songs concern the ongoing romance between Troy and Gabriella, and the friendship of Troy and Chad (Corbin Bleu), whose duet, "The Boys Are Back," owes a big debt to "Thriller," just as the ghost of Peter Allen haunts Ryan's dance routine (Grabeel is the best thing in the film).
While Efron has really outgrown this sort of thing, and Hudgens' strong suit is smiling sweetly, it's the newcomers who shine: Playing the comedy twosome of Jimmie "Rocket Man" Zara and his sidekick, Donny Dion, are Matt Prokop and Justin Martin, both of whom seem destined for greatness. So does Jemma McKenzie-Brown, who plays the Eve Harrington role to Tisdale's Sharpay, injecting a little "All About Eve" into a movie that prefers to steal its best stuff from the vaults of vintage MGM.
(G)
PLOT The gang is graduating, but amid all the other distractions - college, basketball, Prada - they decide to put on one more show.
CAST Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel
LENGTH 1:52
PLAYING Area theaters
BOTTOM LINE Watchable, musical and formulaic, which is precisely the point.
STAR BUCKS
Is the third time always a charm?
With "High School Musical 3" opening today, here's a look at how the third installment of various movie "franchises" have done at the box office.
Back to the Future 3 (1990) - $87,727,583
Child's Play 3 (1991) - $14,960,255
Final Destination 3 (2006) - $54,098,051
Friday the 13th: Part III (1982) - $34,581,519
The Godfather, Part 3 (1990) - $66,666,062
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - $14,400,000
Home Alone 3 (1997) - $30,882,515
Jaws 3-D (1983) - $45,517,055
Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987) - $44,793,222
Rocky III (1982) - $124,',897
SOURCE: boxofficemojo.com
