High School Musical 3 - our verdict (with trailer)

By Nigel Powlson

WHEN Disney launched its made for TV movie High School Musical it kick-started a global phenomenon that has seemingly grabbed the attention of every pre-adolescent child

A franchise was born that has so far included cable television's most-watched broadcast, the two highest ever rated Disney Channel movies, two multi-platinum soundtracks, a concert tour, an ice show and numerous awards.

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The bizarre thing for the Disney accountants is that all of these money-churning enterprises are usually the spin off from a massive big screen movie and yet, for all its success, High School Musical has never been anywhere near a multiplex.

So reversing Disney's usual trend of DVD and TV follow-ups to cinema successes, the High School Musical bandwagon has now escaped the small screen and the third part in the series rolling into the popcorn houses on the back of record-breaking advance ticket sales.

The only question now is whether this feel-good phenomenon can break out of its pre-teen roots and grab the Mamma Mia! audience. So far the signs are good because the fresh young cast have one big advantage over the Abba-movie cast in that they all have a degree of musical talent.

Leading the way are Troy (Zac Efron) and his sweetheart Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) a too-cute-to-be-true couple who are in their final year at the idyllic East High School.

Troy has just led the Wildcats basketball team to a second championship but can't tell his dad that he loves the stage just as much as sport. Gabriella has landed a place at a prestigious university but persuades her friends to pit on one last big musical show before they all move on to adult life.

For Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) this is the chance to grab a place at Julliard performing arts college but as time runs out on school life all the friends have decisions to make about their futures.

High School Musical dismisses the teenagers-on-heat high school routine that has become a cinema cliche and turns the clock back to a more innocent era that may have only existed in the movies. It's the old kids-putting-on-a-show routine that dates back to Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in the 1930s. Add in a bit of Grease, a touch of Hairspray kitsch and even a nod to All About Eve and you have all the ingredients required.

The pop-rock soundtrack is irritatingly catchy and director-choreographer Kenny Ortega gives the film a burst of high energy that virtually never flags.

The advantage of the cinema-size budget also means the production numbers are bigger and better than in the first two films.

Yes the goody two shoes American wholesomeness can be irksome but it's certainly harmless and that bitter-sweet moment when all kids grow up and move on is really quite nicely captured. For it's target audience this is simply irresistible and for mums, dads or grannies faced with a half-term outing then the good news is that it has the same warm feel of Mamma Mia! but is at least ten times better done.