Just as good as High School Musical 2.
Tools:
Recommend review to a friend »
They say that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but that hasn't stopped Disney from trying to recapture the magic of "High School Musical" with two sequels and a heavily-marketed made-for-TV summer variation, "Camp Rock." Now MTV has gotten into the act, keeping it clean for a target audience of 'tweens with "The American Mall." Make no mistake about it, MTV is also trying to capitalize on the "High School Musical" phenomenon, since the cover of this DVD proudly proclaims that it's "from the executive producers of 'High School Musical.'"
Okay, so what exactly does that mean? It depends on whom you ask. If you talk to someone like my daughter, a familiar plot structure and similarly inserted (and staged) songs make it a film that's very much like "HSM" and just as enjoyable. The look is also the same, which is surprising, given the slickness and edginess that has been a trademark of MTV all these years. In fact, it's not even as slick-looking as the "HSM" films. That's one reason why it feels like a cheaper knockoff to me. Still, it's worth noting that kids who like "High School Musical" and "Camp Rock" will also like this amiable musical, especially because the songs are really catchy--easily as good as the "HSM" songbook. And if you look at the end credits, you'll see why. Three of the 10 tunes were written by David Lawrence, who did the music for all three "High School Musicals." And the choreography was handled by director Shawn Ku and Bonnie Story (who worked on "High School Musical" as well).
"The American Mall" almost perfectly duplicates the narrative and musical structure of "High School Musical." Instead of high school, it's a mall, and rather than have the two shy aspiring singers only being high school students, one is the daughter of a music store owner who works at the mall (and rehearses there after-hours) and the other is a janitor at the same mall. Both of them have dreams of making it in the music world, and they both "find" each other over an improvised duet, shades of "HSM." Instead of a father who wants the son to be only an athlete or a mother who wants her daughter to use her brain to succeed, this girl Ally (Nina Dobrev) has a mom (Yassmin Alers) who was a failed singer and now is the biggest sourpuss on the planet, wanting her daughter to study business in college. Ally, meanwhile, would rather study at a conservatory. Then there's long-haired Joey (Rob Mayes), who has aspirations to become a rock star but works at the mall as a janitor. We have no idea what his home life is like, because it all takes place at the mall. His "family" is a three-pack of janitors who jam with him on brooms and air guitars and drums while the security guards pretend they're catching bad guys to pass the time. A lot goes on at the mall after people leave, you know.
As with "High School Musical," the female lead's nemesis is a spoiled rich girl. But Madison (Autumn Reeser) doesn't just want to steal Ally's new boyfriend and musical soul mate. Determined to launch her own designer line and impress her rich daddy (Al Sapienza), she's also made it her mission to force the music store out of the mall.
At the mall-all!
Which brings us to the music. Lawrence wrote one of the three big production numbers that are placed at the beginning, middle, and end (again, like "HSM"), and they're the kind of songs that will have you singing or dancing . . . mostly if you're a 'tween or younger. "Every 10 Seconds," "At the Mall," and "Get Your Rock On" are the big numbers, but "Don't Hold Back" is also strong, while "Survivor" provides the only moments when parents will be reminded it's an MTV production. For this one, Ally (and the alleycats, for lack of an official group name) strut their stuff in black outfits with high-heeled FM boots and they do a little stripper-style high leg kicks and boob-shaking shoulder shimmying. That she's announcing in the song how she's no longer going to be a "nice girl" doesn't exactly jive with what happens next and also doesn't set a great example. But it's an energetic song that's nicely performed. In fact, the music is a strong point. The only criticism I have is that the songs are over-processed with a Stevie Nicks-style nasal vibrato that's so noticeable you don't think for a minute it's these kids' raw voices. But there's an energy here, that's for sure.
When Joey and the Janitors (Neil Haskell, David Baum, Wade Allain-Marcus) grab instruments in the store and begin rocking out with "Get Your Rock On"--a catchy tune written by Dana Calitri, Nina Ossoff, and Kathy Sommer--kids spill into the store and it's party a-go-go, reminiscent of all those Beach Blanket or Elvis films. Everything's here but the Swim, the Frug, or the Mashed Potato. But the funny thing is, even though the dance moves were directed by one of the "HMS" choreographers, here and elsewhere they seem much more amateurish--partly because so many of the moves are in chorus-line unison with not enough individual variation, partly because they're not as demanding, and partly because the cast just doesn't seem to have the same level of athleticism. Listening to the director's commentary, when Ku complains that the janitors didn't practice long enough for one routine you get the feeling that he was only half-joking.
Average user rating (1-5):
Not yet rated.
Not yet rated.
[release]24276[/release]