Camp Rock

Okay, DO NOT get me wrong. I love the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato to death but honestly, it feels like this film is missing something. I know this is supposed to be a Disney Movie and that it has been endlessly compared to High School Musical but I have to say that... High School Musical carries an element of magic that is missing from Camp Rock.

The songs are all catchy and entertaining and unlike the unpredictability of a musical, when the characters sings: It makes complete sense. The acting is mediocre, there were points where the actors delivered completely while in others, their ability comes into question.

The movie itself was relatively interesting and kept me vaguely hanging, even though there were times where I just got up and walked around (got food and refreshments). Shane Gray is a convincing jerk. Overall, you can see where the movie was headed from the moment it started. But it carries you through the movie and you believe that there is such a camp out there (which is something we all wish).

I NEVER said that the movie was bad, just predictable and half-hearted. But no matter what, THERE IS SOMETHING TO ENJOY.

Even though I was jealous of Demi Lovato when Joe Jonas sang to her lakeside. & I had to pause my DVR when he got out of the lake because well... look at him.

Watch the movie and you'll find something you'll like but don't come in expecting Oscar standards.

I decided to watch this when I was bored one night, being a 20 year old female college student I was obviously not the chief demographic, but I enjoyed High School Musical enough, so I thought I would give it a shot.

The only emotion this movie invoked was the urge to slap the blonde, who was wonderfully venomous and probably was my favorite character in the movie because she at least brought some reaction out of me. The music was incredibly average, also I was disappointed that Alyson Stoner didn't get to dance more, she's wonderful.

So at the end of the movie I was even more bored than when I started, annoyed by Demi Lovato's smile, and feeling let down. Obviously younger audiences will love the Jonas Brothers and the inspiring plot, but the terrible execution of an okay plot pretty much killed the movie for me.

I recently watched "Camp Rock" quite frankly because I was bored and I like to keep the T.V. on when I read. I am out of the age range that Disney tries to appeal to (a.k.a. preteens) but I figured "what the heck? let's try to get back in touch with the good old days".

First off, I found none of the songs really catchy and the choreography not quite what it could've and should've been (this from a dancer's POV, by the way). The ending song was especially cheesy and useless and should've been thrown out altogether. The ending choreography was just repetition and boring.

Secondly, the acting on the part of the lead girl, Lovato, was good for Disney Channel and she could probably be seen in more Disney movies to come. Because we all know that pretty much no Disney Channel actors ever leave the Big D. The Jonas Brothers aren't probably the greatest actors in the world and there certainly is no harm in an acting class (or two.... or three...).

And lastly, the plot has been done so many times (not only Disney is guilty of this either) that it was really predictable and boring and I found myself rolling my eyes. Girl likes boy, but oh no! a girl who wants the spotlight! And so on and so forth.

I'm sure many teenyboppers who love The Jonas Brothers, hoping for a resurrection of HSM will love this movie and have their rooms decked out in HSM and "Camp Rock" but for the rest of us.... probably not worth the time.

Face it, the majority of viewers were Jonas Brother fans. Nothing wrong with that at all, in fact, it was probably the movie's selling point.

However... The script was poorly written. Unrealistic moments and scenes are embedded throughout the movie, Camp Rock sitting at the top of them all. The plot was VERY predictable, and lines seemed forced and very, well. PLOTTED. haha. The Jonas Brothers made their appearance, as promised, but don't expect any acting close to Zac Efron's or Shia LaBeouf's. Joe Jonas, playing the main protagonist, is not meant to be an actor. His voice is mediocre and sounds nicer with backup vocals and guitar. Nick Jonas seemed robotic (why were his swim trunks so short?) but Kevin Jonas played a pleasing and likable airhead.

Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff and Shia LaBeouf have left Disney. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are on the way out. Disney has come to realize that they can't keep depending on the JoBros and Hannah/Miley Cyrus to reel in the cash. So, they introduced a new, but not-as-cute as Hilary Duff face: Demi Lovato. Okay, she's not edgy and charismatic like La Lohan, not NEARLY as exotic as Hudgens, and not as experienced and cheeky as Cyrus, but hey! She did okay. Her voice is good enough to be unforgotten, but also be hard to remember. I'm happy they didn't use her best friend, Selena Gomez, who is another tool in Disney's attempts to recreate lovable shows that don't come close to Lizzie McGuire or Even Stevens.

Anyways, the music's simple, sounds familiar, but is fairly pleasing. The acting (including MORE not as talented faces)is mediocre and slightly painful at times. (Excluding Alyson Stoner, who was probably the best) I don't recommend watching the movie more than twice, because by then, you'll know each line, each verse, and each forced laugh, and fake diss. This doesn't rock completely, but it's not so disappointing either. :)

I wasn't sure what Camp Rock would be like, as I heard a lot of bad things about it, and a lot of comparing to High School Musical. As I didn't care that much for the latter, I gave Camp Rock a shot, expecting it to be bad. Instead...it wasn't THAT bad. Yes, it was predictable and bland, but there were some enjoyable things about it.

Admittedly the story is very predictable, it is the sort of thing you have seen before and there is nothing special here. The script also has its weak spots and clichés, and some of the characters felt shallow.

However, the performances had a lot of spirit and enthusiasm about them, with Demi Lovato sweet and pretty in the title role especially. I thought the soundtrack was groovy and in general quite catchy, not my sort of thing really, but even after 15 minutes I can still remember the end song. The choreography is good, repetitive perhaps in one or two areas but not too bad. Also the ending has a touch of feel good about it.

Overall, nothing to rave about or anything special, but not as bad as I thought it would be. 6/10 Bethany Cox