High School Musical, Disney’s Greatest Franchise
If you have a preteen in your life, you probably have been hit with a lot of chatter about a movie called High School Musical. Even if you do not know a preteen, you cannot have escaped the amazing popularity of this film. Seldom has a made-for-television movie been such a hit, but Disney knew it had an enormous hit on its hands from the day of its premier, January 20, 2006.
High School Musical has enjoyed unprecedented success. The movie’s soundtrack was the best selling album of 2006. The show inspired books, an ice show, a video game, and a stage musical. Naturally, a sequel was produced and aired in 2007. High School Musical is so sensational that it has the distinction of becoming the first made-for-television movie with a theatrically released sequel: High School Musical 3: Senior Year will premier in October, 2008.
What is the fascination? The story follows much of the classic fundamental structure familiar in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Two high school juniors from varying cliques “click” with one another as they secretly audition for their school’s musical. Their backgrounds as basketball star and math whiz certainly do not lend themselves to performing in a musical. Their relationship and their auditioning prove to be disruptive elements within the school, and all sorts of devious behavior ensues.
The characters in this movie appeal to the preteen set largely because they are going through many of the same frustrations in finding themselves and then having the audacity to actually be themselves. The movie’s message, to have the guts to override the status quo, is freeing to young people. And, of course, the music rocks!
The release of a High School Musical remix on DVD includes some new bonus features. There are two music videos: “We’re All in This Together” and the never-before seen “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” There is also a featurette giving instructions for copying the moves and a behind-the-scenes look at High School Musical. For children in that hard preteen phase, this is a super DVD!
