As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.
School's out for summer and the East High Wildcats are ready to make it the time of their lives after landing jobs in a wealthy country club owned by Sharpay and Ryan's family.
A popular high school athlete and an academically gifted girl get roles in the school musical and develop a friendship that threatens East High's social order.
At a music camp for gifted teens, a popular teen idol overhears a girl singing and sets out to find who the talented voice belongs to. What he doesn't know is that the girl is actually a camp kitchen worker with a fear of being heard.
Mitchie is back with her friends at Camp Rock, ready to perform music, dance and have a good time. Her "boyfriend" is there as well. A new camp has opened across the lake, creating an atmosphere of competition or feud.
As Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart, on the urging from her father takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most.
Jessica Olsen was expecting a normal trip to California with her family to visit her grandma. However, she agrees to join her older sister to find the famous pop star, Christopher Wilde.
Five high school kids, Olivia, Wendall, Stella, Charlie, and Mo, meet in detention and start a band based on the lemonade vending machine outside the detention room.
The Russo family may be an ordinary family with an average restaurant, but behind close doors, all three children must compete to be the next family wizard.
Troy and the gang of East High School are going through their senior year, facing graduating and going their separate ways. Coming to terms with the reality of it all, Troy wants to attend the nearby University of Albuquerque next year on a basketball scholarship, but Gabriella wants to attend Stanford University in California. Meanwhile, Sharpay, the school's shallow and spoiled rich girl, plots to go all out planning the school's final musical show with the idea to add music to her hopes and fears about the future. While Sharpay takes an up-and-coming British exchange student under her wing, her flamboyant fraternal twin brother, Ryan, has his sights set on something different after school. In addition, Troy's best friend and basketball teammate Chad, and Garbiella's best friend Taylor, all have their sights set on their plans after high school and come to terms with the reality of the real world.Written by
Anonymous
All of the original songs from the film were listed among the 49 eligible songs for nomination at the 81st Academy Awards in the Best Original Song category, with special notice towards the songs "I Want It All," "Can I Have This Dance," "A Night to Remember," and "Scream." Ultimately, none of the songs were nominated, though "Last Chance" (which was part of the compilation song "Senior Year Spring Musical") was performed during the ceremony as a part of a tribute to songs from movie musicals. See more »
Goofs
Tiara Gold enters the same classes as Sharpay despite being in the year below. See more »
Quotes
Troy Bolton:
[Hands Chad flowers]
The garden club is rooting for you.
[Chad goes to take them, but Troy pulls them back, making Chad give him the basketball first]
See more »
Crazy Credits
There is a music video during the credits: "Just Getting Started" by the "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" reality show winner Stan Carrizosa. See more »
It's funny to think that this time two years ago, I had no idea what HSM was, but now it's everywhere - it's marketed to death with pretty much every possible item you could want bearing the toothy grins of the cast jumping in the air. Main reason I watched the first and second on the telly over Christmas and Easter respectively? Go and ask my nine soon-to-be ten family friend's daughter, who always asks if I've seen it. Yep, you guessed it, she's a big fan.
So, since the first was such a success thanks to those under 12(who probably in secret, rule the world), Disney milk the cash cow for the last few drops and bring out another one.
Possibly, the only one in the cast that can act with a shred of conviction, given the superficiality of the material is Efron. And no, I don't harbour a fancying towards him, it just seems the other cast members are either too OTT and annoying(Sharpay, Tiara the new London schoolgirl transfer, Jimmy etc) or come across as unconvincingly with their 'cute' personals (Hudgens especially).
And I can't nor do I even imagine I can speak for everyone, but there were too many 'pass me the bucket, I'm going to throw up' romantic moments with Troy and Gabriella that were so saccharine they could cause diabetes(and they get most of the songs). The first one had less of these moments and was better for it(although I'm not claiming any one of these films is very good, as I don't think they are).
The cinematography has such bright, bold colours with the trademark red and white that near the end I was hoping maybe the sunny attitude the clothing has would be turned down a notch. The Barbie pink wardrobe adorned by Sharpay may suit the character, but still looks ridiculous - I hope no ones getting ideas to copy this look in their hoards ....
Now or Never is my fave song (can't get it out of my head, just like how We're All in This Together(which gets a slower arrangement for the colourful graduation in this film) and What Time is It? were my faves of the first and second films respectively. As mentioned before, I'm not keen on the ballads shared by Troy and Gabriella. Another song I liked was the I Want it All and the dream stage scenes with the song, I laughed at the boyband pop-video wannabe that was Boys Are Back. Anytime a song begins to play and the cast start to sing, I can help but laugh unintentionally - it's obviously, all very cheesy.
Overall: It's not everyday you see a group of young kids under seven all dancing around near the big screen itself near the front in the cinema when the film ends or slapping their hands on their thighs in time with the music for one of the last songs, High School Musical. I even saw some jumping around, pretending to do the moves show in some of the musical numbers!
It's squeaky clean and about as deep as a puddle, yet who am I to cast the first stone for something harmless children enjoy, as I had my moments aged 8-10 when I loved something equally as cheesy - Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers anyone? The plot hardly has a chance to get into depth, even if it wanted to though with more than ten songs to squeeze in (and some references to other musicals with the big stage set pieces), so when it does start with the drama it all seems contrived and I wanted a catchy song to bop my head to.
Yes, it's a guilty pleasure of mine, and yes, the opening is cringe-worthy with a close-up of a sweaty Efron in grimace playing basketball as are some other scenes, but in terms of feel good throwaway entertainment it works alright. Don't go in expecting hilarity as it only has a handful of mildly amusing and one laugh-out-loud funny moments with Jimmy near the end(not including my unintentional giggles). Oh and stay behind a few minutes for some few bloopers.
Nothing brilliant and this definitely doesn't top Grease which I think still portrays high school a bit more realistically (and with better songs to me), but I don't strongly dislike this nor would you catch any of the merchandise or even the DVDs in my room, never mind my home. It's a cheesy craze that's having it's time, so let the kids enjoy it for it's inoffensive happy persona. And ... Go wildcats! But please, let it end with the hats being thrown in the air - no more sequels Disney! Aren't the houses of your execs big enough?!
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It's funny to think that this time two years ago, I had no idea what HSM was, but now it's everywhere - it's marketed to death with pretty much every possible item you could want bearing the toothy grins of the cast jumping in the air. Main reason I watched the first and second on the telly over Christmas and Easter respectively? Go and ask my nine soon-to-be ten family friend's daughter, who always asks if I've seen it. Yep, you guessed it, she's a big fan.
So, since the first was such a success thanks to those under 12(who probably in secret, rule the world), Disney milk the cash cow for the last few drops and bring out another one.
Possibly, the only one in the cast that can act with a shred of conviction, given the superficiality of the material is Efron. And no, I don't harbour a fancying towards him, it just seems the other cast members are either too OTT and annoying(Sharpay, Tiara the new London schoolgirl transfer, Jimmy etc) or come across as unconvincingly with their 'cute' personals (Hudgens especially).
And I can't nor do I even imagine I can speak for everyone, but there were too many 'pass me the bucket, I'm going to throw up' romantic moments with Troy and Gabriella that were so saccharine they could cause diabetes(and they get most of the songs). The first one had less of these moments and was better for it(although I'm not claiming any one of these films is very good, as I don't think they are).
The cinematography has such bright, bold colours with the trademark red and white that near the end I was hoping maybe the sunny attitude the clothing has would be turned down a notch. The Barbie pink wardrobe adorned by Sharpay may suit the character, but still looks ridiculous - I hope no ones getting ideas to copy this look in their hoards ....
Now or Never is my fave song (can't get it out of my head, just like how We're All in This Together(which gets a slower arrangement for the colourful graduation in this film) and What Time is It? were my faves of the first and second films respectively. As mentioned before, I'm not keen on the ballads shared by Troy and Gabriella. Another song I liked was the I Want it All and the dream stage scenes with the song, I laughed at the boyband pop-video wannabe that was Boys Are Back. Anytime a song begins to play and the cast start to sing, I can help but laugh unintentionally - it's obviously, all very cheesy.
Overall: It's not everyday you see a group of young kids under seven all dancing around near the big screen itself near the front in the cinema when the film ends or slapping their hands on their thighs in time with the music for one of the last songs, High School Musical. I even saw some jumping around, pretending to do the moves show in some of the musical numbers!
It's squeaky clean and about as deep as a puddle, yet who am I to cast the first stone for something harmless children enjoy, as I had my moments aged 8-10 when I loved something equally as cheesy - Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers anyone? The plot hardly has a chance to get into depth, even if it wanted to though with more than ten songs to squeeze in (and some references to other musicals with the big stage set pieces), so when it does start with the drama it all seems contrived and I wanted a catchy song to bop my head to.
Yes, it's a guilty pleasure of mine, and yes, the opening is cringe-worthy with a close-up of a sweaty Efron in grimace playing basketball as are some other scenes, but in terms of feel good throwaway entertainment it works alright. Don't go in expecting hilarity as it only has a handful of mildly amusing and one laugh-out-loud funny moments with Jimmy near the end(not including my unintentional giggles). Oh and stay behind a few minutes for some few bloopers.
Nothing brilliant and this definitely doesn't top Grease which I think still portrays high school a bit more realistically (and with better songs to me), but I don't strongly dislike this nor would you catch any of the merchandise or even the DVDs in my room, never mind my home. It's a cheesy craze that's having it's time, so let the kids enjoy it for it's inoffensive happy persona. And ... Go wildcats! But please, let it end with the hats being thrown in the air - no more sequels Disney! Aren't the houses of your execs big enough?!