Review: 'High School Musical 2'

BY DIANE WERTS | diane.werts@newsday.com

August 10, 2007

Omigod, omigod, omigod! "High School Musical 2" is previewing a week early on Cablevision iO and Verizon FIOS TV on-demand!! This is soooo off the hook!!!

OK, I'll stop acting like I'm 10 years old now.

Which means I'll no longer be the optimal viewer for "HSM2."

Where last year's Disney Channel movie sensation aimed to be fun for everyone, the sequel that officially debuts on the cable channel next Friday is designed from top to bottom for true believers. For devotees who've memorized every moment of the original and want nothing more than to relive it. For those waiting, aching, craving for hottie Troy and cute Gabriella and conniving Sharpay to be just as hot, cute and conniving as they were before, only more so. For music freaks who prefer hook-laden tunes to sound familiar the first time they hear them.

None of which matters to the true believers. But which might to the bystanders (parents: this means you) about to be subjected to the myriad "HSM2" cable repeats, due-soon CD, yet-to-come DVD, and various online sights/ sounds again and again. And again.

At least "HSM2" boasts the same energy that fueled 2006's school-year original to stratospheric heights of ratings and revenue. This one may be more lively, taking place in the bright sunshine of a summer spent by the Wildcats gang at a New Mexico country club (actually shot in Utah), blessed with backdrop mountains, desert landscapes and vibrant hues of blue (sky) and green (golf course). Spoiled fashion-plate Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale, in pink) and her moneybags family hold such club sway that the need-it-all girl can get school cool guy Troy (Zac Efron) hired to be her personal plaything. Of course, he then gets all his pals hired on, too, which brings into the picture sweet girlfriend Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), best pal Chad (Corbin Bleu) and all the other "HSM" kids. And that sets all-about-me Sharpay a-squealing.

Literally. Tisdale and returning director-choreographer Kenny Ortega amplify her whimpering and foot-stomping to a level of overkill matched only by, well, the rest of the movie. Since there must be trouble in paradise, Sharpay manages to turn noble Troy's head by smoothing his path toward a college basketball scholarship. That upsets the romantic equation with nice-girl Gabriella ("If along the way you act like someone you're not, pretty soon that's who you become") and the brotherhood with Chad (who tells Troy off even worse!), until Our Hero ultimately recognizes the error of his self-absorbed ways. In the meantime, Sharpay's little brother/lapdog (Lucas Grabeel) rehabilitates himself by leading Troy's neglected gang toward a club talent show whose preparation necessitates enough musical numbers to fill, well, an entire CD (conveniently dropping Tuesday).

Some of those dance routines are as inspired as the original "HSM's" memorable basketball number. These would include - what a coincidence - a macho-male new song-and-dance on a baseball diamond. A zesty number in the club kitchen percolates infectiously, too, with teen chefs and waiters playing instrumental pots and pans. The adrenaline level is fierce enough to sweep anyone up into the beat.

Until you start to notice how every musical number begins slow and builds, progressively adding more cast members to the mix and swelling to its pop-excess conclusion. How the script is yet more formulaic, with even the "cutting loose" moments carefully crafted once again by "HSM" writer Peter Barsocchini. How the actors hit one note emotionally, except for Efron's Troy, who's asked to play two notes (which is one too many).

And how über-slick the entire production is, afraid to stray to anything unexpected, unwilling to attempt even a moment of subtlety or character depth, satisfied to merely feed the tween need for more of the same. "HSM2" succeeds as what it's designed to be - a good-enough for the kids, clean-enough for the parents, profitable-enough for Disney product.

But if there's any project that's a slam dunk, it's this one. Some analysts estimate the original "HSM" merchandise/licensing empire earned $1 billion. So why not challenge expectations just a little bit? Why not give the kids a movie better than it has to be?

Nope, Disney's "HSM2" delivers precisely what's required. And America is all ears.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2. The Wildcats gang spends the summer working at a scenic country club where songs are sung, lessons are learned, and the Mouse House makes beaucoups bucks all over again. Available starting today via Disney On Demand subscription service from Cablevision iO and Verizon FIOS TV; premieres Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.