Is it reasonably well made and enjoyable? Yes. Is it a major must-see? I wouldn't say so. 'I kissed a vampire' is a good time in my opinion. It's also not without its idiosyncrasies that no doubt limit its audience, and I can see why it won't be received well by all.
Let's get the less favorable aspects out of the way first, because though they're not insurmountable, there are several. Of course musicals are a niche genre to begin with, but this is a step further down that same road by being unmistakably geared toward young teens more than older teens or adults. I think I remember seeing it described somewhere as "'High school musical' meets vampires," and that's not entirely wrong; every facet is washed over with a plucky, happy-go-lucky, toned-down sheen that says "Disney" more than it does "off-Broadway" or "Internet." None of this is to say that it can't be entertaining, but the "horror" element is more a de facto flavor instilled by the involvement of creatures of the night than it is a feeling manifested at any time or in any way. In addition to the more family-friendly slant of the title, one can't help but notice a certain quality to the songs that becomes a little grating. I haven't the ears to discern whether the singing is genuinely auto-tuned, or if there's just a vocal effect laid on top that plays in the same ballpark, but where it crops up it's distinctly distracting, and detracting from the overall experience. While the practical effects are just fine in my book, and some of the special effects are blended fairly well with the filmed footage, there are also instances of CGI that, in the strictest of terms and in the most garish of cases, were at least ten years out of date in 2010. And for all this, it perhaps goes without saying there's a generous layer of ham-handedness spread over the entirety of the picture that exceeds even what is already customary for musicals as a genre.
Mind you: save perhaps for the noted factor in the singing, all these limitations aren't so much abject flaws as they are a matter of personal preference. It's a lot to take in at any given time, yet in every way that matters, I really do think 'I kissed a vampire' is meaningfully entertaining, and worthwhile on its own merits. The costume design and hair and makeup work ranges from suitable to terrific; though admittedly less than subtle and in keeping with the ethos of "Let's not be TOO risque, please," nor do I think there was any intent otherwise. The production design and art direction are lovely, and in all other regards from a technical standpoint fine work was put in. I believe the cast give capable performances and demonstrate excellent singing ability or at least potential, including primary stars Lucas Grabeel, Drew Seeley, and Adrian Slade. I could do with more variety in the songs, a wider range of moods and instrumentation, but both in concept and in execution I think they're fun. While the choreography is nothing to write home about - well, this is still a rather low-key, low-budget production after all, and I think it rather fits the tenor of the feature as a whole. And, true, the narrative is nothing remarkable whatsoever; there's nothing in the plot we haven't seen before as a struggle for humanity is weighed against the temptations of vampirism, with a couple other bits and bobs thrown in. It's also fair to say that it's simplified in keeping with the tack of the picture. Yet I think Chris and Laurie Nolan's writing is broadly as commendable as Chris' direction, including small snippets of emphatic humor that did elicit some laughs or amused smiles along the way.
I'm not saying this is perfect, because it's not. It's pretty tame, and not robustly flavorful in any fashion, neither the story or characters, effects or wardrobe, or song or dance. But 'I kissed a vampire' only wants to have a good time, and I recognize the earnestness and care that was poured into it from all, whatever resources they did or did not have to work with. Not every movie needs to be inescapably mind-blowing; sometimes it's enough just to kick back, relax, and enjoy whatever comes your way. It's not flawless; it is, however, pleasant. And that's okay by me.
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