Bandslam (PG)

QUESTION. Where do High School Musical kids go after they graduate?

Answer: not very far, by all accounts.

The series' basketball-mad heartthrob Zac Efron was last seen in 17 Again . . . playing a basketball- mad heartthrob.

And next week, we've got Ashley Tisdale, who played preening, self-centred ditz Sharpay Evans . . . as a preening, self-centred ditz in Aliens In The Attic.

We'll gloss over Lucas Grabeel's small role in Milk for the time being, because otherwise this intro doesn't work.

So it's up to Vanessa Hudgens to show at least ONE member of the jazz-hands-waggling cast can push the boundaries a little bit.

And no, I'm not talking about those pics from her "personal collection" that recently surfaced on the net."

Dream

Now don't get me wrong. The High School Musical series was great and I've got mad love for the Efron - the man sneezes charm and farts likeability.

But the chances of any of the cast carving out a decent showbiz career outside "The Trilogy" were slimmer than a Wildcats lead at the end of the third quarter (told you I was a fan).

SEE VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH BANDSLAM STARS

Well, colour this cynic surprised.

Because I think it was William Shakespeare who said: "We're soarin'. Flyin'. There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach. If we're trying, yeah, we're breaking free."

And with Bandslam, Vanessa's the first HSM star to break free properly from East High's clutches.

Admittedly, on the surface, it sounds familiar.

A mismatched group of high school teens come together through song and learn that friendship and ambition are great, blah, blah, follow your dream.

But there's a layer of realism and smart humour here you probably wouldn't expect.

It's perfect for families, but never patronising. Sassy, but not saucy. It's the Missing Link between wholesome kiddie fare and 15-rated smut like Superbad.

And if it wasn't for some unfortunate saggy bits towards the end, that would be one hell of an achievement.

Our story begins when Will Turner (newcomer Gaelan Connell) arrives in town after his mum (Lisa Kudrow) lands a new job.

At school he meets Vanessa's character, indie chick Sa5m ("the five's silent"), and the pair bond over their shared love of quality tunes.

To the astonishment of both, high school It-girl Charlotte Banks (Disney Channel poppet Aly Michalka) takes a shine to Will and recruits him to manage her band.

The film follows Charlotte and Will's attempts to whip the group into shape in time for Bandslam - a state-wide battle of the bands - and Will and Sa5m's believably awkward relationship.

It's a sweet coming of age story aimed at kids who aren't quite coming of age themselves.

And impressively, it dodges clichés like Piers Morgan dodges salads.

All of the characters are well fleshed-out and Will and Sa5m are into The Velvet Underground, Cheap Trick and David Bowie - acts that teen music fans actually like, as opposed to ones that'll make for a hit soundtrack CD.

The rambling storyline holds it back from greatness, though. A bullying subplot is a dead end and most of the twists and turns would be better suited to a TV series than a two-hour movie.

Still, the cast are likeable, the music's decent and there's a good message in there too.

And in these days of FBI-trained hamsters and vile CGI aliens, that's good enough for me.

• OUT WEDNESDAY

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