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High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

Director: Kenny Ortega

Time Out rating

Average user rating

270 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

After much tabloid frenzy, the frigid and terrifyingly wholesome tweeny franchise ‘High School Musical’ reaches part three. It stars Zac Efron, a young fellow of such flawless matinee-idol good looks that he could well have been manufactured in a plastics factory. Set in an immaculately clean Albuquerque high school, the film offers an America of balanced gender quotients, perfect racial mixtures, social conformity, unquestioningly supportive parents, universal teen virginity, gourmet school canteens, universities on tap, prom fixations, detached mini-mansions, plush flowerbeds, alpine vistas and insipid, meaningless pop tunes. Irony is very much on the blacklist. It’s the kind of film you imagine we’ll all be sat in front of by the future world high commander when we’re all brain-drained zombie automatons: ‘Totalitarian Gap Models Sing Pop’ is what it should be called.

Parents might find solace in the fact that ‘High School Musical’ contains no product placements, but then the film is the product – one long, gaudy, squeaky-clean advertisement. And when we leave the cinema, we can expect to be drowned mercilessly by the merchandising tsunami that follows. It’s possible that – for perhaps the first time ever – you’ll actually wish the film had more product placement: just something, anything, to connect it to reality. Indeed, ‘High School Musical 3’ is a film that is so disengaged with the real problems faced by young teenagers that it makes ‘Dirty Dancing’ look like ‘Les Quatre Cents Coups’. The bottom line is, if you’ve not already booked tickets for the entire family, think twice before being caught up in the hype. At best, you’ll be disappointed; at worst, you’ll want to blow up a high school.

Author: David Jenkins

Time Out London Issue 1992: October 23-29, 2008

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User reviews of this film

HSMForever said...

Posted on May 17 2012 19:25 Just because there is no drugs, violence, or other things that would risk HSM being rated R, doesnt mean its bad. Just because its a movie to be watched for FUN and not boring facts doesnt mean its bad. Just because a teen says its good doesnt mean its bad. I love HSM. Its fun, joyful, excellent music, and I dont watch sequels to movies I dont like. Sure this may be my first ever review, and sure, maybe I am a 15 year old (teens CAN spell, by the way), but that doesnt mean I am wrong. Go on. Hate HSM just to hate. I dont care. I love it.

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Leslie said...

Posted on May 26 2010 06:50 Totalitarian Gap Models Sing Pop’ is what it should be called.
bahahahaha funniest shit ever.

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phoebe said...

Posted on Nov 10 2009 13:27 what a very horrible review! all high school musicals are very good for mainly young children, the characters are very good role models aswell as the actors, teenagers and young adults interested in performing arts, music and thoery in media can get stuck into the more detailed and proffesional side of it, adults can laugh at the amazing cheesy-ness, wont stop themselves from dancing and humming to the songs and at the end of the day....have you seen zac efron? everyone musical must have a hunk and i believe they got the best of the best. parents can feel safe in the knowledge that there children are watching something that will inspire them into taking oppotuinities making friends with everybody and believing everybody is equal, and to work hard for the future ahead of them...kids need more things like high school musical its not as unrealistic as you may think, take out the singing and dancing and the plots are amazing for kids....and take a lesson in review writing,

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hollie warburton said...

Posted on May 06 2009 14:48 Would you really want to watch a film with people who cant sing ? Well i sertanly wouldnt anyway! Arnt musicals suppost to have good singers in it ? The dances are so old fashioned and are soo cheesy ! This is the worst film ever!! Not recomended for any age group!

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chloe watts said...

Posted on May 06 2009 14:47 I would definitely recommend this film to people of all ages. It is full of great singers and amazing dancers. This is your typical great family movie that is full of teenage love. Like in all the other sequels, Gabriella leaves but the film becomes more enjoyable when she comes back. This is a film not to be missed!!!!!!!

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jimmytr said...

Posted on May 04 2009 10:12 i didn't really like this film what he's doing was nothing compared to what we used to do in highschool

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grant said...

Posted on Apr 07 2009 12:00 great its brill i recommend it to any one

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Loola said...

Posted on Mar 29 2009 19:54 THIS FILM IS THE COOLEST FILM EEEEVEEEERRRRRRR! I NOW HAVE OVER 500 HSM THINGS! IT ROX!!

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LondonDude005 said...

Posted on Mar 29 2009 11:11 This film is really good! can@t wait for nda next one xxx

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chloe said...

Posted on Mar 22 2009 21:47 all the HSM is rubbish they jst want ur money ... have u seen their products ... prb cost 10p to make ...sont buy anythin from HSM it is cheesy, and Zac Efron is not hot he is ugly ... he looks like a barblie doll ....yuck

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Renee Dzandzo-Caesar said...

Posted on Mar 22 2009 20:51 It is a good film but number1 is the best it was a bit diapointing for my sister that 1 beacuse it was quite long the cousin the 4 thought it was rubishh cos there was load of sing and nothing else wait in tell it come on telly there is no point waching it in the cinima you will wast your money.

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mackenzie said...

Posted on Mar 18 2009 20:28 fine fine you have broke me im sorry happy and again im sorry i did not realise i was threatening you sorry XXXXX

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Anonymous said...

Posted on Mar 16 2009 21:54 @mackenziesjohnstone
You've made a few mistakes.
1) Never give out your full name over the Internet. If you're a "big girl" as you proclaim, you'd know this.
2) You DID threaten everyone who stood against you, or just called you out on your stupidity. "u will go downnnn" is pretty much a threat.
3) You're insulting people over the Internet because they have an opinion that's different from yours. If that's the way you want to waste your time, so be it, but you won't get anywhere in life.
I hope this helped clear up all the disputes.
Thank you, and have a nice day.

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emma overton said...

Posted on Mar 14 2009 13:22 hi a love this film its so cool xx emma xx

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alice658 said...

Posted on Mar 10 2009 13:07 god mackenzie youre 10 just chill out and accept that not everyone likes this film.Inclduing me its crap. And dont get annoyed at people who do praise the film it makes you look really retarded

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