High School Musical 3: Senior Year

In the final segment of the musical sensation, the gang of East High experience their senior year as it ends all too soon for their liking.

The euphoric life of the East High seniors is made even better through their rhythmic songs and choreography. Worry-free for the most part, their main concerns are having too much fun, making their senior year last longer and of course, what to wear to the prom.

For their big screen debut, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" made sure to be as big as possible. The sets were bigger, the choreography more intricate and entertaining and the songs better and catchier than ever. "High School Musical 3" follows the gang on their final performance for their spring play. They recreate their senior year and all the feelings that accompany it—the joys, stresses and decisions that have to be made.

Like in the previous films, Troy Bolton, played by Zac Efron, struggles with a decision. Basketball or theater? Time is up though as this Wildcat’s last days at East High School come near and he must decide. To add to Troy’s dilemma, with Gabriella, played by Vanessa Hudgens, going away to college in California, will their Disney love be strong enough to keep them together?

As we watch Troy and the others experience their last year of high school, the scenes are 100 times better than ever before. Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth, Bolton’s sidekick, gets more film time and we get to see his talent as a performer. Efron has visibly grown as he takes us through different genres of music (mostly boy band music and some rock) in his performances to show us Troy’s frustrations behind his seemingly perfect life. He even does a number on a rotating hallway—very N’SYNC. His steps are more advanced, and his lungs explode in “The Boys are Back” and “Scream.”

As for the rest of the gang, Hudgens as Gabriella hasn’t changed much from the previous films as she continues to serenade her feelings for Troy in exaggerated expressions and cheesy smiles. Ashley Tisdale got less screen time but her scene, “I Want It All,” that expresses her love of showbiz, has to be one of the most memorable and best performances she has given as resident bad girl Sharpay Evans.

Supporting actors, Lucas Grabeel as Sharpay’s twin brother Ryan Evans and Olesya Rulin as composer Kelsi Nielsen finally get the recognition they need. In this final segment, we learn that they too have talents and they get their own time to shine in the spotlight.

Although it lacks a complicated plot, by making Troy’s adolescent decisions the main point of the movie, it’s enough to keep its teenage audience interested because it is a recurring point that runs throughout all three films. This is the end of that link and by addressing the issues teens face at the end of their high school experience, the third segment captures your attention with the musical performances. Parents will also enjoy it, however much they might deny it, because it remains PG by only showing one kiss between the star couple. Besides, what more can you expect from a Disney movie? A movie that has up until now been made for the Disney Channel? The leap they made to the big screen came with the appropriate changes for a teen sensation musical. It even hinted at a possible fourth installment by introducing three new, younger characters to continue the legacy.

In a Grease-esque final performance, the excitement oozes through the screen as they graduate and the curtains drop. This was their “last chance to get it right,” and they did.

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