High School Musical

SYNOPSIS

It's slight on plot and totally predictable, yet this slickly packaged musical comedy from Dirty Dancing choreographer Kenny Ortega certainly ticks all the right boxes for its target pre-teen audience. Not only are leads Zac Efron (Hairspray) and Vanessa Anne Hudgens (Thunderbirds) an attractive partnership, but their blossoming romance - bookish Hudgens transfers to the star basketball player's high school - is charmingly sweet and full of positive life lessons. Central to these is the importance of resisting peer group pressure, as the duo encounter classmate resistance when they decide to audition for the school musical together. Adults may be bewildered by the film's runaway success, however for youngsters the catchy songs, gentle humour and overall vibrancy are likely to prove an irresistible combination.