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The central six teenage characters seemingly defy gravity because they are so brimming with positive energy on this theater stage-set poster for Kenny Ortega's High School Musical
Troy is East High School's basketball star #1, but privately he dreams of living out his other talents for singing and dancing in the school's coming musical, - preferably alongside the rousing transfer student Gabriella.
High School Musical is written by Peter Barsoccchini (Drop Zone (1994)) and directed by great Californian filmmaker Kenny Ortega (Newsies (1992)).
Brimming with enthusiasm and love for the musical genre, Ortega here erects a new classic for the small screen with catchy songs (We're All in This Together and a bunch more) and infectious performances. The universe presented is consequent in its excessively neat Disney Channel pedigree, which is actually part of the fun attraction here.
Zac Efron (The Iron Claw (2023)) is High School Musical's big scoop and find, very cutely paired with Vanessa Hudgens (Drunk History (2018-19)). Other top-performing young stars include Corbin Bleu (Chicago Med (2018, TV-series)), Ashley Tishdale (Charming (2018)), Lucas Grabeel (Pinky Malinky (2018-19)) and Alyson Reed (NCIS (2018, TV-series)), who is quite funny as the stern drama teacher.
High School Musical is pure fantasy, - and an inspired one at that, because who wouldn't want to have - or have had - this kind of high school experience? Despite one dorky number High School Musical is an outstanding musical.
Watch a trailer for the film here
Cost: 4.2 mil. $
Box office: None - TV movie
= Mega-hit
[High School Musical was first shown 20 January (Disney Channel, North America) and runs 98 minutes. It was commissioned as a response to musical episode specials of two Disney Channel shows proving to be highly popular with its young audiences. Efron was paid 100k $ for his performance. Shooting took place in Utah, including in Salt Lake City, and in Los Angeles, California. The film broke TV movie records for Disney with 7.7 mil. initial viewers, becoming the channel's top TV movie (their number 63), by 2019 reportedly having been seen by 225 mil. audiences worldwide. Additionally more than 3.8 mil. copies of the film's soundtrack were sold in North America alone. The home video release of the film also sold millions of copies, accruing more than 100 mil. $ in sales. A stage musical tour with the stars (minus the too busy Efron) played American venues for 2 months. An ice-skating version was created, a wealth of merchandise, a TV series spin-off, two direct sequels, a novel series and foreign adaptations also followed. Ortega returned with Gilmore Girls (2002-06) and feature-wise with High School Musical 2 (2007). Efron returned in 6 TV and music video credits prior to his theatrical return in Hairspray (2007); Hudgens in 7 TV and music video credits prior to High School Musical 2 (2007). High School Musical is fresh at 67 % with a 5.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
An evil eye and a terrorized teen ditto stand out on this dark poster for Martin Schmidt's Sidste Time
A tabloid crime show broadcasts from in front of a high school, where a wave of murders is decimating a locked-in group of students.
Sidste Time is written by Dennis Jürgensen (Bag Det Stille Ydre (2005)) and directed by debuting Martin Schmidt (Kat (2001)). The original Danish title translates to 'last hour', referring to the last class of the day for a student.
A generous three heart rating here to this heavy-handed Danish horror that's very teenage-eschewed but has something worthwhile to it: A ghost-story-like fright factor. The acting is fair, - the TV host and the Last Girl performances are especially energetic, - and the dialog is decent. There is a scene with Thomas Bo Larsen (Another Round/Druk (2020)), which falls out of the overall tone of the film as only comical (and it is in fact a lot of fun.) But Sidste Time is also often involuntarily funny.
Schmidt is no great director. Here again and again he interrupts scary starts with scenes of the TV show shooting outside the school that are without real purpose. The film stalls and doesn't have nearly enough terror. It also has a horrible, 1980s-sounding score (by Frans Bak (Men & Chicken/Mænd og Høns (2015))) and a title song by Søs Fenger that is, in a word, misguided. One wonders, was the film prohibited for some incomprehensible reason from being really scary?
Enjoy Søs Fenger and Elisabeth Gjerulff Nielsen's misguided title song here
Cost: 4.5 mil. DKK, approximately 0.61 mil. $
Box office: In excess of 4.8 mil. DKK, approximately 0.65 mil. $
= Uncertain, but likely a big flop (projected return of 1.32 times its cost)
[Sidste Time was released 22 February (Germany) and runs 77 minutes. Shooting took place for 18 days in a school in Hørsholm, Zealand, Denmark, which was offered for the production because it was closed for reconstruction due to widespread mold decay. In Denmark the film sold 118,496 tickets, coming to 4.8 mil. DKK, based on the average 41 DKK ticket prize at the time. Regrettably there is no info available on the film's performance in Germany, Norway and Finland, where it was also released. Most likely it was tiny releases in those countries, and with a projected final gross of 6 mil. DKK/0.81 mil. $, the film would rank as a big flop. Schmidt returned with Mørkeleg (1996). 1,2k+ IMDb users have given Sidste Time a 5.8/10 average rating.]
+ Best High School Title of the Year + Best Musical of the Year + Best New TV-series of the Year
Jane Lynch in a blue tracksuit as her outrageous character is amusing on this poster for Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy's Glee - season 1
Glee is a musical comedy youth TV-series created by Ian Brennan (Cooties (2014)), Brad Falchuk (9-1-1: Lone Star (2020-21)) and Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story (2011-21)).
The following contains SPOILERS:
Charming Matthew Morrison (Marci X (2003)) plays McKinley High School teacher Will Schuester, who takes over the school's ambitious Glee club New Directions, as its former leader (funny Stephen Tobolowsky (Spaceballs (1987))) gets fired for being handsy. Schuester has a crazy, pregnant wife (Jessalyn Gilsig (Friday Night Lights (2007-08))) and a good eye for the school's germophobe guidance counselor (Jayma Mays (The Millers (2013-15))). He also has trouble attracting students to the club, until he locks heartthrob Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith (Deck the Halls (2006))), using dirty tricks and a bag of weed. The pilot introduces fun, in-your-face type characters with a high pace and lots of music, including a promising performance of Don't Stop Believin'.
Jane Lynch (Portlandia (2015, TV-series)) is hilarious as New Directions' enemy #1, Sue Sylvester, the school's hyper-ambitious gym teacher/basketball coach, who isn't about to start sharing the school's spotlight without a fight.
The show is guilty of over-sexualizing its supposed high school age cast, (average high schoolers are 14-18 years old in America, whereas Monteith for instance was 27 when the season debuted!) This is pervasive and includes girls dancing in bikini tops, much as strippers, and said Monteith alluring an older woman using a breast piercing (...) In other words Glee plays light and loose with behavior that could result in many years jail time in most US states in real life (sex or something before sex with a minor.) Of course this is nothing new but a decades-old tradition in American cinema.
Some episodes are forgettable, as the dramatic plot-lines evolve and sometimes stall, and the season's length makes it hard to sustain traction: Will's wife gets her ob-gyn to join in on her pregnancy lie (a little hard to believe). Two pregnancies (one only a pretend pregnancy) lead the drama, but Kurt's (Chris Colfer (Hot in Cleveland (2014-15))) coming out and infatuation with Finn also ranks high. Sue's crazed competition gene and poor morals lead things to a melodramatic pitch (strong ep. 12: Mattress), where Will also realizes his wife's big, crazy secret. The melodrama of Glee is often played to theatrical heights, as characters appear to have major epiphanies.
Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies (2007-09)) appears as a guest star as Will's alcoholic ex-girlfriend and is a funny and musical powerhouse. Other enjoyable guest stars include Idina Menzel and Neil Patrick Harris.
The season wraps up with 'regionals', the glee club competition that the entire season for the club aims towards, and here Jonathan Groff's (Frozen (2013)) competing club wins with a performance of Bohemian Rhapsody which even gets Sue to cancel her antipathy and stand up for her school's otherwise hated club, whom she finally saves to great rejoice.
Glee as noted has its flaws, but it is also more spirited and has more oomph than the vast majority of other TV-series. The season has several stand-out episodes and performances, and its over-arching theme of overcoming adversity and participating in a creative community is uplifting. Especially combined with the often outstanding musical and dance performances of big hits, which is the show's core. It surpasses itself time and again, and its charming and funny embrace of its own corniness is part of its refreshing appeal. Glee - season 1 is a wonderful, thrilling show.
Best episodes:
2: Showmance - Written by Brennan, Falchuk, Murphy; directed by Murphy
The girls fight over Finn, as Will learns that his wife isn't really pregnant. The family mother as an in fact power-mad super-bitch gets painted to hilarious effect here. Musical numbers include Golddigger, Push It and Say a Little Prayer.
3: Preggers - Written and directed by Falchuk
Kurt is found at home practicing to Beyoncé's Put a Ring on It, and lies about being a football player. It turns out that he can actually kick, - and he teaches the team about self-confidence (and confusing the enemy) by instructing them in the legendary Beyoncé dance. Finn's girlfriend is pregnant, and wants to give birth. Sue becomes a local TV anchor ("How's homelessness working out for you?!?") Kurt finally comes out as gay to his father, and Colfer deserves some kind of major award for his inspiring performance in this episode and the show overall. A genius episode.
9. Wheels - Written by Murphy; directed by Paris Barclay (In Treatment (2008-10))
Kurt competes with Glee club's princess Rachel (Lea Michelle (Scream Queens (2015-16))) about who should get to sing Gravity, and his father receives a nasty anonymous phone call about Kurt and stands up for him. Will stands up for Artie, the club's disabled performer (Kevin McHale (Boychoir (2014)) is good as Artie)), and everyone performs in wheelchairs in Rollin'. Sue surprises by including a Down's syndrome student in her competing Cheerios Glee club, and reveals that her sister has Down's. Feel good, feel good, feel good.
15: The Power of Madonna - Written and directed by Murphy
Glee superior St. James (Groff) changes high school to be nearer Rachel, whom he is in love with - or is it just a sneaky undercover operation? Finn loses his virginity, and Glee surprises with this Madonna-themed episode, in which Sue shows off her major fandom for Madonna: Lynch performs Vogue in Madonna-getup, which is priceless!
Cost: Reportedly 3 mil. $ per episode, coming to 66 mil. $ for the season
Box office: None - TV-series
= Uncertain
[Glee - season 1 premiered from May 19 2009 - June 8 2010 at Fox and runs 22 episodes of approximately 44 minutes, coming to 968 minutes. Shooting took place in California, including Los Angeles. The season enjoyed high ratings, going from 6.08 mil. (ep. 11 Hairography) to 13.66 mil. (ep. 14: Hell-O). The season was nominated for 20 Emmys, winning 4, won 1/4 Golden Globe nominations, was nominated for a BAFTA and won an AFI award, among other honors. The soundtrack was a hit with over 7 mil. cast singles releases sold digitally. The cast went on a 13-date concert tour in the US following the season, which was sold-out and grossed 5 mil. $. Brennan, Falchuk and Murphy returned with the cast for Glee season 2 (2010). Lynch raked in 11 (!) other acting credits in 2009; Morrison also appeared in Taking Chance (2009, TV movie). Glee season 1 is certified fresh at 86 % with a 7.94/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
+ Best Coming-of-Age Title of the Year + Best New TV-series of the Year
Paul Feig's Freaks and Geeks gathered a dynamite cast of young actors, seen here in front of school lockers on a poster for the show
Freaks and Geeks is created by Paul Feig (Sick in the Head (2003, TV movie)) and executive produced by Judd Apatow (The Big Sick (2017)). The show takes place in and around a high school in suburban Detroit in the 1980s, where we focus on siblings Sam (played by awfully cute young John Francis Daley (Game Night (2018))) and his big sister Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini (Green Book (2018))), who both attend the same school and go as part of the different groups there, the 'geeks' and 'freaks', respectively. There's fun and a special authentic vibe to the show right from the beginning, as Sam and his friends are bullied. Lindsay throws a party (ep. 2: Beers & Weirs), which doesn't work out as she had hoped, but characteristically the failure doesn't go overboard as it would on many other shows. There's a perceptive and funny portrayal of middle class meeting lower class (ep. 4: Kim Kelly Is My Friend), and one of the doubts and fears inspired by watching porn at an early age (ep. 5: Tess and Breasts). Jason Segel (LolliLove (2004)) is very funny as drum-obsessed Nick, who has a cool garage but isn't a very good drummer. Lindsay becomes his short-lived girlfriend and falls for him hard.Shia LaBeouf (The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)) appears as a super-cute mascot (ep. 9: We've Got Spirit).Becky Ann Baker (The Blacklist (2019, TV-series)) and Joe Flaherty (Slackers (2002)) are hilarious as the Weir parents, who are shocked to find that Lindsay views them as robots but find their base again through lovemaking (ep. 10: The Diary). Both young Weirs are in the process of locating their personality and identity, as in ep. 11: Look and Books, in which Sam buys a fancy jumpsuit, and Lindsay changes her path back to being a 'winner' and, concurrently, a 'mathlete'. Sam, though younger, also chase a romance, Cindy, a girl who is mostly preoccupied with other boys, but when she is suddenly before Sam, he gets terrified, (ep. 16: Smooching and Mooching). They share a very short term as boyfriend/girlfriend, which ends when Cindy doesn't think Steve Martin-comedy The Jerk (1979) funny, - a dealbreaker for Sam. The show has elements rarely seen in a mainstream TV-series at the time, like a transgender girl (Seth Rogen's (The Disaster Artist (2017)) character's girlfriend reveals to him to have 'ambiguous genitalia', ep. 17: The Little Things), and miss-givings from both Lindsay and the school counselor about a visit from the then vice president George Bush. As the season ends, Lindsay turns down an offer to participate in an elite school camp to attend a Grateful Dead concert instead, with Kim (Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty (2018))) and friends. And Nick has a new girlfriend is also falling for disco! The episodes are sometimes long and loose, especially some in the middle of the season, where it treads water a bit. But there is so much good around these few patches that Freaks and Geeks remains a rare favorite: The opening credits are fantastic, with each major character goofing around and showing a clear piece of their person to the camera in a manner of seconds. There's a long row of enjoyable guest stars, and the regular cast are all outstanding as the charming and funny characters. There are real feelings at play and real issues, especially that of finding oneself, which is the major theme of adolescence and the coming-of-age genre. It is infectious, touching, very well-written and often terribly funny. Best episodes: 3: Tricks and Treats - Written by Feig; directed by Bryan Gordon (Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-17)) Sam and Lindsay's mother's Halloween cakes are thrown outside their house. Sam's friends pester him for convincing them to go trick or treating, although they argue they are too old for that now, when Lindsay and her friends even egg them! A terrific Halloween show that puts a sweet spin on the recognizable theme of disappointment. 12: The Garage Door - Written by Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah (90210 (2008-13), both) and Patty Lin (Breaking Bad (2008, TV-series)); directed by Feig Sam witnesses his close friend Neal Schweiber's (Samm Levine (I'd Like to Be Alone Now (2019))) father hug a blond at the mall, and it opens a can of worms: Together the trio of friends head out to locate the mysterious blond. Meanwhile Ken (Rogen) falls for a girl who plays the tuba, and Lindsay still has to fend off still enamored Nick. Funny, sweet and a bit painful. 14: Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers - Written by Apatow, Bob Nickman (According to Jim (2002-06)); directed by Apatow Lindsay and Kim accidentally run over Lindsay's uncool friend Millie's dog and decide not to speak of it, but inadvertently push Millie into an escalating youth rebellion as a fan of The Who. Meanwhile Sam's friend Bill (Martin Starr (Silicon Valley (2014-19))) has a major crisis, as their gym teacher becomes his mother's boyfriend, something he ultimately accepts. 15: Noshing and Moshing - Written by J. Elvin Weinstein (Later (1994-96)); directed by Jake Kasdan (Orange County (2002)) Lindsay's friend Daniel (James Franco (Future World (2018))) breaks up with Kim and flirts with a punk-milieu girl from the gas station. The Schweibers invite to a Christmas party, and Neal entertains with his ventriloquist act, - and reveals to his mother that his father is unfaithful. Real emotions and strong acting from Levine, Franco, Phillips and others. Related posts: Paul Feig: Ghostbusters (2016) - Feig's reboot is the summer's light-heartedly funny, slimy major release 2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess Spy (2015) - Feig and McCarthy score spy spoof gold! The Heat (2013) or, Prissy and Offensive in Boston Top 10: Best comedies reviewed by Film Excess to date 2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 2011 in films - according to Film Excess Bridesmaids (2011) - Subversive comedy with laughs a-plenty
Cost: Reportedly 1.5 mil./episode, coming to 27 mil. $ for the season Box office: None - TV-series = Uncertain [Freaks and Geeks was first broadcast at NBC from 25 September 1999 - 17 October 2000, ending its run on the Fox Family Channel. Shooting took place in California, including Los Angeles. The show averaged 6.77 mil. viewers and was compared to Friends and Frasier, both shows that had more than double that. Clashes persisted between the showrunners and network execs, who did not understand or appreciate the show; they wanted a cool high school portrayal with kids that were 'winners'. For this reason NBC canceled the show after 12 episodes were aired; only through a fan campaign did they agree to show the next 3 episodes in the summer of 2000, with the last three episodes being shown at the Fox Family Channel. Apatow stated in 2014; "Everything I've done, in a way, is revenge for the people who cancelled Freaks and Geeks." Apatow gathered many of the actors from the show for Undeclared (2001), a college-set comedy in the same vein at the Fox network, which was also canceled after its first season. The show won 1/3 Primetime Emmy nominations. Freaks and Geeks was since recognized as one of the greatest TV-series of all time by several outlets. IMDb's users have voted it in at #59, between Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) and Arrested Development (2003), on their Top 250 TV chart. Feig returned as screenwriter with I Am David (2003) and as a show creator with Other Space (2015), also canceled after its first season. Cardellini returned in Legally Blonde (2001); Daley in Boston Public (2000-01)). Freaks and Geeks - season 1 is certified fresh at 100 % with an 9.67/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.] What do you think of Freaks and Geeks - season 1?
Rebellious, perky fun is promised on this bright and youthful poster for Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High
We follow a girl, who loses her virginity, and the boys around her for a period in and around Ridgemont High School, - and not least the nearby mall.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is written by Cameron Crowe (Roadies (2016, TV-series)), based on his own same-titled 1981 book, which in turn was based on undercover work done at a San Diego high school, and directed by great New-Yorker filmmaker Amy Heckerling (Clueless (1995)), whose debut it is. It is a charming and enjoyable youth picture with Sean Penn (This Must Be the Place (2011)) as what must be the ultimate California surfer dude character, Jeff Spicoli. Watching the film, Penn's authenticity as Spicoli almost makes it hard to grasp that he wasn't actually this character in real life. A lot has changed in and around high school life since Fast Times at Ridgemont High, - and a lot hasn't. It is no Dazed and Confused (1993), which may have beat it in its game a decade or so later, but it is a fine, empathetic film all the same.
Watch a clip from the film here
Cost: 5 mil. $ Box office: Reportedly 50 mil. $ = Mega-hit (returned 10 times its cost) [Fast Times at Ridgemont High was released 13 August (USA) and runs 90 minutes. Shooting took place in California, including in Los Angeles, from November - December 1981. The film opened #7 to a 2.5 mil. $ first weekend in 498 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #3, ultimately spending 6 weeks in the top 5 (#3-#3-#5-X-#4-#5-#4) and grossing 27 mil. $ (54 % of the total gross). The 50 mil. $ final gross is asserted in Peter H. Brown's LA Times' article We're Talking Gross, Tacky and Dumb (1985). Roger Ebert gave the film a 1/4 star review, translating to 4 notches worse than this one. Heckerling returned with Johnny Dangerously (1984). Penn returned in Bad Boys (1983), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Road to Perdition (2002)) in The First Time (1982, TV movie), ABC Afterschool Specials (1983, TV-series) and theatrically in Easy Money (1983). The film inspired a short-lived CBS TV-series called Fast Times (1986). Fast Times at Ridgemont High is certified fresh at 78 % with a 6.75/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.] What do you think of Fast Times at Ridgemont High?
We are reminded of the skulls lying behind the young, attractive stars' faces on this effective poster for James Wong's Final Destination
A high school class boards a plane headed for Paris, which explodes shortly after take-off. One of the students wakes up on the plane, which is readying for take-off. The experience, an extremely vivid dream or premonition, makes him leave it. - Only to actually see the plane explode shortly after with most of his classmates onboard. - This is only the beginning ...
These are the opening scenes of Final Destination. And you can't argue with this opening, which is hauntingly morbid and evocative, besides well-made technically. Regrettably the young actors in Final Destination, of which many are lifted from TV, are generally sub-par, and it is also curious that the script often charge them to be stupid to the point of retardation. Final Destination is, despite - and sometimes maybe because of - its moments of involuntary comedy and frightful self-importance, an entertaining teen horror. It is written by Glen Morgan (The X-Files (1993-18)), Jeffrey Reddick (Tamara (2005)) and feature-debuting co-writer-director James Wong (Dragonball: Evolution (2009)).
Watch a trailer for the latest in the franchise, Final Destination 5 (2011), here
Cost: 23 mil. $ Box office: 112.8 mil. $ = Big hit [Final Destination premiered 16 March (USA) and runs 98 minutes. Reddick's original idea was first envisioned as an X-Files episode, but was instead written as a feature. Filming took place in British Columbia, Canada, including in Vancouver, in Toronto, Long Island and San Francisco from May - August 1999. The film opened #3, behind fellow new release Erin Brockovich and holdover hit Mission to Mars, to a 10 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed #3 for another week before leaving the top 10, grossing solid 53.3 mil. $ (47.3 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 15.5 mil. $ (13.7 %) and Germany with 6.9 mil. $ (6.1 %). The success spawned a franchise of 4 more films, (Final Destination 2 (2003), Final Destination 3 (2006), The Final Destination (2009) and Final Destination 5 (2011)) comic books and novels. Wong returned with The One (2001). Final Destination is rotten at 34 % with a 4.7/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.] What do you think of Final Destination?
