If you're lucky, you may have missed the entire Disney High School Musical phenomenon. But not me. With kids smack in their target population, there's been no avoiding it. Yes, we own the first movie and the soundtracks from the first and the second. So there was no getting around going to see the third movie, the first in the series made for the big screen, and get this, released in Europe several days in advance of its U.S. premiere.What I learned today is that the French have fallen for this hokey, romanticized view of high school life in America and done so hook, line, and sinker. Since the kids are all off for the Toussaint break, we went to the movies in the afternoon and let me tell you, it was packed. I don't think there was an empty seat in the house and the crowd was all ages, guys and girls alike. They awwed at the mushy parts and clapped when the villainess got her due, and gave a big round of applause at the end. You gotta hand it to Disney; they know how to create a following and how to keep on delivering. Now I'm just waiting for the next installment as the gang heads off to college, Gabriella gains the freshman 15, Troy dons beer goggles, and Sharpay goes all out to pledge the right sorority.
6 comments:
Do you think that this movie is an accurate representation of the American youth, and I guess the American way of life to a certain extend?
Isabelle: Where should I begin? Let's just say that Disney didn't make its millions by dishing up doses of reality. Well sure the outside of the high school looks like a typical American high school but in this one, everyone's good looking and gets along and no one's stressing about getting into college or how they're going to afford it, not to mention dealing with other more serious issues that play out in a high school environment such as drugs, sex, and race relations. A high school coach or your typical single mom don't make the money for houses like these. And while the outside shots of the school look typical, the facilties are unbelievable for a public school. Anybody else want to chime in?
Drat...I missed all of them.
Evie: You mean you don't break out in song at odd moments during the day, say when you're making dinner or putting the kids to bed or just walking down the street? I thought all Americans did that (even when they're in Paris, like Gene Kelly).
(whoops, not sure what happened up there to my first comment)
Anne, I've been following your adventures for a few months now and have loved reading about them! I've spent a lot of time in Paris (though I live in NY now) and loved every minute of it. But I had to chime in on this one! I'm a private school kindergarten teacher, and I was recently referencing something I did in high school. One of the kids said "Wait, high school? Like, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL??!!!". I think it's horrible that our kids now have unreasonable expectations of high school...I had to explain to her that regular high schoolers don't spontaneously break out into song or look like 25 yr olds. I'm still trying to figure out how a regular ol' Disney movie ended up causing so much hype...
Anne: Ha ha...nope, I'm not the random-breakout-in-song type. But I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility for some!
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