High School Musical (2006, TV movie) - Ortega's universally appealing teenage fantasy

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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.]

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